Pick an object and record your observations in a journal.

Hi! I’m Christina Elson,  an archaeologist at the American Museum of Natural History. I work with the ancient cultures of Mexico. Being an archaeologist is a lot like being a detective: we decipher clues to learn about people of the past and the way they lived. Think of all the things archaeologists have discovered about ancient cultures. For example, today we know a lot about the Aztec religion because archaeologists uncovered their most important temple under modern Mexico City.

But how do archaeologists find out things about people and cultures that disappeared hundreds or even thousands of years ago? We examine the objects they left behind. Every object, or artifact, provides important clues about the people who used it long ago. We closely observe every discovery, record important information, and think about what each artifact tell us about the people who used it.

Now it’s your turn to investigate an “artifact” and record your observations in a field journal!