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[MUSIC]

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JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST:

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Scholars in Greece in the fifth

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century B.C.E.

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were the first to save even more

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ancient artifacts.

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But the science of archaeology

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didn't really get started until

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the 1820s.

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Archaeologists still use the

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same basic tools today:

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A trowel to help remove layers

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of earth delicately,

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A shovel to move large amounts

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of dirt,

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Picks to use on harder surfaces,

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brushes and dental picks to

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clean artifacts without any

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damage and

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Sieves to filter out small

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artifacts.

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But not every tool is so simple.

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Archaeologists are using

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ground-penetrating radar to see

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what lies beneath the soil.

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They use high-powered

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microscopes to examine tiny

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details,

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Archaeologists are even joining

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with NASA to study land features

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hidden away by growth and time.

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And high-tech computers and

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software help with anything from

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mapping, artifact analysis, data

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recording, even 3-D modeling.

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What started as scientists

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scraping away at soil, is now an

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advanced and exciting science.

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For more information about

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archaeology, check out the

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Science Trek website.

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You'll find it at

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ScienceTrek.org