How do archaeologists know where to dig?/How are sites found?
Typically, the presence of items of archaeological interest will be present on the surface of the ground, such as a collection of projectile points, flint flakes, or even the remains of a structure (in the case of historical archaeology) and perhaps this is noticed and reported to a professional archaeologist. In the Tennessee Valley, many sites were found by people walking along river bottoms, noticing where there was an unusually large amount of artifacts, and by talking to local farmers, to see if they had noticed anything out of the ordinary while plowing their land. The presence of a mound is a huge clue. Mounds were built in villages either as a place to bury those of high importance, or as a place to locate ceremonial centers. Sites can also be located by reading historical records, noting where European explorers write about meeting native people.
