What does cultural research involve? How are objects studied and conserved? What do you do on a dig? This section draws from the Museum's vast anthropological and archaeological resources to answer these and other questions about studying the human past.

		The Ancient City of Petra Article for grades 3 through 8 Petra was built by Arabian nomads who became very rich as desert traders. But why did these nomadic merchants decide to settle down in one place? Explore the mystery while strolling through Petra's ruins.
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		What's the Big Idea? Archaeology Article for grades 3 through 8 For archaeologists, each discovery is like finding a piece of the puzzle. With enough pieces, they can glimpse what life was like long ago. Get a complete picture of how archaeologists work.
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		Meet the ArchaeOLogists Article for grades 3 through 8 Archaeologists are detectives who gather clues to the past. Discover the intriguing facts and artifacts that Chuck, Alexis, Ian, Jena, and Kellner have unearthed while following their curiosity.
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		Tools of the Trade Activity for grades 3 through 8 How do you find a place that's been lost for more than 300 years? Take up this challenge, and learn what it took for archaeologists to locate a lost mission on a 14,000-acre island near Georgia.
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		Inca Investigation Activity for grades 3 through 8 It's your turn to do archaeology! As you investigate what daily life was like in the Inca empire, you have the chance to collect Inca chronicles. Do you have what it takes to collect all six?
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		Up Close with a Zapotec Urn Article for grades 3 through 8 It's not easy being an artifact! There's restoration work, touring schedules, and all those people to educate. Uncover a civilization that flourished long before the Aztecs in this urn-est interview.
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		Piecing It All Together Activity for grades 3 through 8 Ornate jewelry, simple baskets, stone tools ... these are just some of the artifacts archaeologists have uncovered among ancient ruins. But one of the most common discoveries is pottery.
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		Mint Your Own Coin Activity for grades 3 through 8 That change jangling in your pocket is more than money—it's a record of where and when you live. Find out why coins are valuable clues for archaeologists. Then, design your perfect coin.
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		If Trash Could Talk Activity for grades 3 through 8 One person's trash is another person's clue. It's amazing how much you can learn about people just by examining what they throw out. Grab a thick pair of rubber gloves, and dig in!
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		Map Your World Activity for grades 3 through 8 Have you ever gotten lost in a new place? Chances are you used a map to find your way. Archaeologists use maps to find their way around an excavation site—but first they have to draw them.
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		Create Your Own Time Capsule Activity for grades 3 through 8 In the future, if archaeologists were to dig up artifacts from your life, what would they find? What would these objects tell them about how you lived? Build your own time capsule, and send a tailored message to future generations.
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		Make an Archaeologist's Field Journal Activity for grades 3 through 8 Sherlock Holmes had his notebook; Christina Elson has her field journal. Find out how it helps her decipher clues from the past. Then find and analyze artifacts from your life.
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		What Do You Know About Archaeology? Activity for grades 3 through 8 How much do you know about what it takes to dig up the past? Examine the details in each question closely to ace this interactive quiz on archaeology.
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		Make Your Own Archaeology Stationery Activity for grades Kindergarten through 8 Looking for an easy way to make sure your letters and notes withstand the test of time? Simply add your name and address—and anything else you want to say—to these colorful letterheads.
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		Becoming a Cultural Researcher Curriculum Materials for grades Kindergarten through 8 What would an anthropologist make of your toothbrush, your school locker, or a Halloween jack-o-lantern? Examine the material culture and artifacts of your life.
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		Looking at Our Own Cultural Artifacts Curriculum Materials for grades Kindergarten through 8 When you think of your family's traditions and beliefs, what special objects come to mind? Would the meaning and value of these objects be clear to someone from another family or culture?
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		When Cultures Travel Curriculum Materials for grades 5 through 8 When people move, they take along more than their personal possessions. They also transport their culture. How have your family and your neighbors influenced the community you live in?
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		Studying the Material Culture of Three Nomadic Cultures: The Gabra, the Mongols, and the Blackfeet Curriculum Materials for grades Kindergarten through 8 One of the best ways to learn about a culture is to look at the objects its people use. What can you tell from the object alone? And what do you gain by seeing it in use?
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		Anthropological Collections Management Article for grades 9 through 12 Only about 10 percent of the artifacts in the museum's anthropology division are on view at any one time. Learn how the other 90 percent is tracked, used, and stored.
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		Anthropological Objects Conservation Article for grades 9 through 12 How does the museum treat and care for its collection? And what steps can you take at home to keep your personal collection safe? Find out in this look at objects conservation.
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		The Archaeology of Hidden Cave, Nevada Article for grades 6 through 12 To unearth a well-preserved record of American Indian life hidden in an underground cave the size of a gymnasium, archaeologists had to face extreme dust and darkness.
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