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When you think of an archaeologist, what comes to mind?
If we were to wager a guess, we’d expect the image in your mind’s eye would involve a chisel-faced swashbuckling adventurer with a scar on his chin who wears a faded leather jacket, sports a classic fedora, and uses a bullwhip to swing across treacherous caverns, climb out of snake-infested pits, rescue friends, and defeat the occasional villain.
Can we let you in on a little secret?
While many archaeologists wear hats to keep the sun off their faces when they’re out in the field, it’s not a requirement. A fedora is not a standard-issue part of an archaeologist’s uniform. As a matter of fact, there really isn’t an official archaeologist uniform at all.
And bullwhips? Archaeologists don’t normally need those.
We get it, though.
Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. has dominated the cultural landscape ever since he cracked his whip and disarmed an ambush in the opening scene of the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Hear the words “archaeologist” and “archaeology” today, and you’re likely to think of Indiana Jones.
We even lean into this phenomenon with our entrance to National Geographic Treasures of the Earth. Before entering the Treasures Transport on Level 1 and taking it down to the main exhibit area, it feels a bit like you've stepped into an Indiana Jones film.
Indiana Jones’s big screen exploits are the stuff of legend. But real-life archaeology isn’t about swashbuckling adventures. Archaeology is the challenging search for clues about our past. Archaeologists are really history detectives, piecing together stories of the past by investigating what people leave behind. It involves much more than the treasure hunts depicted in movies.
Bringing archaeology to life at The Children’s Museum
That’s what makes National Geographic Treasures of the Earth such an amazing exhibit. Through a combination of real-life artifacts, pretend-play, and live interactive programming, you can practice finding clues, solving puzzles, and uncovering ancient mysteries in three archaeological areas.
You can join the excavation team in exploring a recreation of the burial chamber of Egyptian pharaoh Seti I. In this area, you can decipher hieroglyphics, reassemble a sarcophagus lid and study ancient artifacts. Analyze a replica of the pharaoh’s mummy and try to find hidden treasures in his wrappings.
Or you can dig for clues by unearthing pretend-clay fragments of China’s ancient Terra Cotta Warriors—the forgotten army of more than 8,000 life-sized clay warriors created to protect the first emperor of a unified China, Qin Shi Hiangdi, in the afterlife. Use your problem-solving skills to reconstruct a warrior, and piece together clues to solve the mysteries surrounding these beautiful figures. You can even analyze data from clay fragments and virtually repaint the figures to help better understand the ancient artistic process.
Or you can join the expedition team from Indiana University and explore the shipwreck of Captain Kidd’s Cara Merchant. Study maps and search for clues as you attempt to discover where the ocean currents took the Cara Merchant on its fateful voyage. Investigate the intricacies of the underwater world. You can also learn about the special challenges of conserving objects that have been buried in saltwater.
A lifetime of discovery
Do you want to spark a child’s curiosity? Or maybe you want to fuel a passion for learning and creativity? Talk to our interpreters in the exhibit!. Find out how the smallest clue can make a big impact on our understanding of both our history and our present. You’ll discover first-hand how archaeology probably isn’t the swashbuckling international treasure hunt you initially think of, but just one small encounter can set a course for a lifetime of discovery.
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Supporting The Children’s Museum means bringing lifelong learning adventures to children and families from across the nation. Our museum enriches lives and makes Indianapolis a better place. Your donation—no matter the size—helps ensure the museum will continue to transform lives for generations to come.
Spark an Adventure
