Archaeologists are scientists who want to learn more about life in the past. How did these people cook, fight, or work? Excavated finds can help find answers to these questions.
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Some deep holes in the ground are the workplace of so-called archaeologists. Their job is to dig the earth and unearth valuable things. During the excavations they find various things: pottery shards, bones, ancient weapons. Or even remains of old houses. Like Siberia, a huge region in Russia. There, archaeologists discovered the oldest fortified settlement in the world. Composed of ditches, wooden protective walls and various buildings.
What this agreement tells us
A deal – what’s so exciting about that? Very simple: the fortress is said to have been built around 8,000 years ago. Namely the so-called hunters and gatherers. These people already used fire and killed animals. They also gathered food by gathering fruits, roots, and grasses, among other things.
Most of the time these people lived together in groups and moved from one place to another. Therefore, in reality, they did not own houses or settlements and set up camp wherever they hoped to get the best harvest. This discovery changes our view of people from the past. Apparently there were groups that established permanent settlements very early.
Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Siberia: this is where the plant was found (Photo: Nikita Golovanov)
Furthermore, the researchers were able to prove that other fortresses also existed. Settlements built near a river. Experts therefore assume that people were engaged in fishing. And since the other fortresses were also equipped with defenses, researchers suspect that the groups wanted to protect themselves from each other. So was there already something like a war at that time?
How archaeologists work
But how do archaeologists know where to dig? Quite simply: they often dig because they have to. For example, because a new road is being built. Before construction begins, archaeologists examine the land to ensure nothing valuable is lost. So many things are found by chance. But not always. Places where many objects have already been found are often visited repeatedly. You never know what else is hiding there.
To ensure researchers get their discoveries safely out of the ground, they use a specific tool. First you uncover the objects with a spatula. You remove the dirt with something like a vacuum cleaner. However, it is a misconception that archaeologists spend all day in the ground. They also spend a lot of time in the lab examining their findings. They also read many books about the past.