Readers will feel as if they're taking an active part in an archaeological dig in this informative entry in the Let's-Read-and- Find-Out Science series, reminiscent of Aliki's Digging for Dinosaurs and entries in the Magic School Bus series. Student volunteers accompany Sophie, the archaeologist, to an unnamed dig in a cornfield, where remains of people from the Archaic Era are being uncovered. Scientific information is spelled out in a straightforward text, defining terms--artifact, midden, and feature--as well as processes, e.g., wet-screening dirt. Dialogue balloons show the students' questions and reactions to their discoveries, while a pet beagle's comments provide comic relief. Inserts complement the text by highlighting comparisons between past and present, how tools were made, and what a basket of modern garbage can reveal. The need for meticulous record-keeping and expert analysis is also included: There is a behind-the-scenes look at a lab plus a complete picture of field work, including the long hours, hot sun, and tedious sifting of dirt. With her inviting approach to a complex process, Duke (Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble, p. 1398, etc.) ensures that this eye-opening field trip will inspire dirt diggers and treasure-seekers everywhere. (Picture book. 5-9)
