Photo: Louis Berger Group

Archaeology is the study of people in the past from physical remains found in the present. Each piece of evidence, no matter how small, can be an important chapter of a story about how people organized

Archaeologists are like detectives, searching for clues to reconstruct and understand the lives of ancient peoples. Each clue they find can bring us all closer to a better understanding of how present cultures developed. Clues can be artifacts like stone or bone tools, pottery, or elaborate ornaments. They can be features, like house

mounds, hearths, storage pits and depressions, or burials. Even the smallest stone flake, or fragment of animal bone can help tell the archaeologist more about how people lived in the past. Click here to learn more about the work of archaeologists.

The Iowa Department of Transortation is very concerned about protecting Iowa's cultural and historic resources, and takes great care in studying and documenting the archaeological sites discovered when building highways.

Photo: Louis Berger Group

Click here to learn more about the Wever site, a significant archaeological site uncovered when a new highway alignment was planned near the town of Wever in the southeast corner of the state.

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A series of important historic archaeological sites were also found in northeastern Jones County while inspecting the area affected by the proposed widening of U.S. 151. Visit the Bowen's Prairie Historic Archaeological District pages to learn more about these historic finds.

What Enviro-Explorers can do to help! Each individual can accept responsibility to help protect Iowa's archaeological resources. You can... Visit your local museum. Learn more about archaeological resources. Pass on what you learn to others to spread appreciation and respect for archaeology study and its aims.