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What Do You Mean, Those Aren't Artifacts?

Frequently Asked Questions in Archaeology

By K. Kris Hirst, About.com

I found a bunch of stuff in my backyard that I know is going to revolutionize the established theories of archaeology--but nobody at the state archaeologist's office thinks they are artifacts at all. What do I do now?

First--learn about what the established theories of archaeology actually are in your neighborhood. Archaeology is fascinating, but it's not just what appears in the newspapers or on alternative theory websites. Aliens are never involved in scientific archaeology, and most mysterious finds at least partially fit into what scientists have figured out about the natural and cultural world.

How do you find those things out? By joining the local archaeological association, or visiting the state archaeologist's office or archaeology department at the local university and asking about recent publications on the cultural history of your part of the world.

I can assure you, that even if the things you found in your backyard are not revolutionary or mysterious or even artifacts, you can find yourself fascinated by what science has to offer about the natural and cultural histories of the world.

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