Dig It!

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Common Sense Media Selection for Books Award, 5 stars/A+ for Educational Value/Positive Messages/Positive Role Models

"Exciting, comprehensive intro to what archaeologists do." —Common Sense Media

Dig It! Archaeology for Kids takes readers on a tour through the fascinating world of archaeology, pausing along the way for glimpses into the past lives of people in ancient civilizations across the globe throughout time. This archaeological journey itinerary includes steps in archaeology—finding a site, excavation, lab work, interpretation, and conservation—and types of archaeologists. Bonus topics include tie-ins to the fields of history and art history, household archaeology, artifact museum ownership, and the impact of climate on artifacts.

These pauses at new and familiar archaeological sites exemplify each new topic on our tour by demonstrating how these amazing discoveries incorporated archaeological methods. These entertaining, real-life examples are accompanied by beautiful visual spreads, many which include QR codes that kids and parents can scan with their smartphones to watch drone fly-over videos of archaeological sites and demonstrations of dig techniques!

Dig It! Archaeology for Kids aims to inspire young minds to dig deeper into the field of archaeology through at-home activities, guides, and career paths. Kids and teens will also build critical thinking skills to apply to their own lives by interpreting artifacts. Through the pressing artifact ownership issue and exploring cultural heritage through sites, kids will gain a better understanding of the world on a larger scale.

Kids, teens, and adult readers will all walk away having gained a new insight into the vast world of archaeology, whether it be about an ancient civilization or archaeological method. Can you dig it?

Caitlin Sockin is an author and Assistant Publisher at WunderMill Books’ Persnickety Press. Caitlin holds dual degrees in Archaeology and Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her interest in archaeology and classics began at a very young age, with her first museum visits and fascination with Egyptian pharaohs and deities. She created Dig It! to inspire kids to explore ancient history as it relates to their own lives, and potentially pursue archaeological interests as a hobby or career.

Contributing Editor, Dr. Benjamin S. Arbuckle, is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his PhD in Archaeology from Harvard University. Dr. Arbuckle studies the ancient history and prehistory of Southwestern Asia and carries a special passion for exploring human-animal relationships, including the hidden histories of the animals that live closest to us—pets, livestock, and “vermin.”

Contributing Editor, Dr. Hérica Valladares, is an associate professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she teaches courses on the art and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean. She is a faculty member of UNC’s Curriculum in Archaeology and serves as the Chair of the Academic Advisory Council for the Ackland Art Museum. Her book, Painting, Poetry, and the Invention of Tenderness in the Early Roman Empire, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2021.