How can I find out if a rock my son found is actually an artifact?
   Lisa, California

Dr. dig responds:
The best way to get an artifact identified is to take it to your local museum or university archaeology department. The experts there are only too glad to help out, and if they can't help, they will probably know someone who can. Better phone first, though, to make sure that that the archaeologists are not all off on a dig, or teaching a class, when you arrive. If you don't live near a museum, take a photograph of the artifact and send that instead, with a cover letter giving details of where it was found, of what it is made, how large it is, and any other information that might help its identification. Remember to include your name and address for a reply. But remember, it is always best for archaeologists to see artifacts in their original, undisturbed find position (we call an undisturbed artifact in situ). So, if you think that you have discovered an archaeological site, leave it alone, protect it if necessary, and ask the experts to visit.