ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Forensic archaeology

Forensic archaeology is like being a detective, but for finding old things buried in the ground. Just like how detectives look for clues at a crime scene, forensic archaeologists look for clues buried in the dirt that can help solve mysteries from the past.

When we are trying to find out what happened in the past, we can't just rely on written records or stories that were passed down through generations. Sometimes, we need to dig through the ground to find physical evidence that can help us piece together what happened.

Forensic archaeologists use special tools and techniques to carefully dig up the area where they think something important might be buried. They might use shovels, trowels, and brushes to carefully remove dirt, and they might use screens to sift through the dirt to find tiny pieces of evidence that might be missed otherwise.

Once they find something, like bones or ancient artifacts, they carefully document where it was found and how it was found. This information can be used to piece together what happened in the past, and to help identify people or animals that lived a long time ago.

Forensic archaeology can be used to solve mysteries like who a skeleton belonged to, how an ancient tribe lived, or even to uncover evidence about historical crimes. By carefully digging through the ground and analyzing the evidence, forensic archaeologists can shed light on mysteries from the past and help us better understand our world today.