Artifacts down the street: Exploring urban archaeology

When you think of “archaeology,” you might picture Indiana Jones racing from a remote cave, clutching a priceless golden idol. Or maybe a team of researchers sifting through the sands of Egypt to uncover an ancient Pharaoh’s tomb. But you likely don’t think about the people digging up the parking lot behind your apartment or office building. That’s urban archaeology—the exploration that goes on in our cities. Believe it or not, there’s a whole world of artifacts below our city streets. Artifacts that help tell the stories of our neighborhoods and our heritage.