Archaeology

Archaeology

Archaeology is all about exploration and uncovering the past. There are two steps in the Archaeological process. First, you visit digsites and use Survey to locate and unearth artifact fragments of items from various cultures. After collecting enough pieces, you assemble them into a restored piece.

Unlike other gathering skills, digsites are player-specific. There is no competition for artifact fragments between players. Other players searching at the same digsite are uncovering their own fragments.

PRACTICING ARCHAEOLOGY

Open your world map and look for the small shovel icons that appear around the world. There should be up to four zones appropriate to your character’s level per continent (Eastern Kingoms, Kalimdor, Draenor, Northrend, and Pandaria) that include active digsites. When you zoom into a zone with an active digsite, the area shaded red on the map provides the exact location for you to visit. There’s an option in the upper-right corner of the map frame to toggle the red-shading at the dig sites.

When you reach the area, use the Survey ability to get directions to the exact location of the fragments. The survey instrument that appears indicates both the direction of, and distance to, the fragments. A red light means the fragments are far away; the yellow light indicates you are getting closer; and the green light means you are very close to the fragments. When you are close enough to the fragments, a container of some sort appears instead of your survey tools. Right-click on the item to collect the fragments. You don’t carry these items around in your backpack. Instead, they’re stored as currency.

Dwarf Bonus

Click on the appropriate Archaeology crest to watch your progress. After you collect enough fragments, click on the Solve button to create the listed item. The item goes into your backpack, you get a skill up, and you start on the next object. Any leftover fragments are applied to the new item, so you don’t need to worry about wasted pieces.

Most of the items uncovered with Archaeology are not for combat purposes. There are a few special pieces here and there, but mostly this Profession leads to more peripheral elements, like fun pets, mounts, and Toys for your Toy Box.

Arakkoa Outcasts

In Warlords of Draenor, the Arakkoa Outcasts work with Archaeology in much the same way that the Lorewalkers of Pandaria did. You can trade in excess fragments for crates of fragments from other, non-Draenor Archaeology types. Raising your reputation with the Arakkoa Outcasts will also unlock access to useful Archaeology items, like maps that randomize digsites, and even Lodestones that will teleport you to a randomly chosen active digsite.

Look Up!

Archaeology rewards in Warlords of Draenor include unique Battle Pets and Bind on Account weapons and armor, as well as other fun items. Each completed solve also reveals interesting lore and history surrounding the orcs, ogres, and arakkoa of Draenor.