Book 5, Question 39
Snap and Label! Why Number and Photograph Every Find?
Scientists write a number on each find and take photos to record exactly where it was found. That way nothing gets mixed up, and the clues about where it came from are saved. Good notes let other scientists check the work later.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Archaeologists record what they see with maps, photographs and notes.
- Finds are kept together by where they came from in the site grid.
- Once a site is dug up, it cannot be put back and dug again, so careful records are the only way to look back.
- For every hour of digging, archaeologists spend at least three hours working in the lab.
- Catalog numbers are written on labels on the finds and on their containers.
- The whole collection goes into a database and is stored on shelves in a room with steady temperature.
- Sometimes the written report is the only thing left from a dig.
Sources: National Park Service
Questions kids ask
Why do archaeologists label and photograph everything?
Digging changes a site forever, so maps, photos, notes and catalog numbers keep the information safe.