Looking for Dig Sites
After training your Archaeology skill, you will be able to see them on your big map, not your mini map. The little shovels you see indicate where these dig sites are on your big map. Once you enter a zone with the dig sites you'll see a red circled area on your map. There are a total of 4 dig sites per continent. To get to see all these dig sites, you have to start digging one out.
So, when you first started out, you can't see all of the dig sites yet. This is because they are scaled to your level. This means that if you are a level 30 character, you won't be able to see the dig sites in Outland and Northrend. However, you don't have to worry about competition because only you can see them and you won't have to worry about fighting with another player to get to them first.
Surveying for Fragments
Surveying for fragments is another skill you'll gain when training for Archaeology. However, it can only be used when you are in a dig site. When you click on your Survey skill, a survey tool will appear and show you to where you can find a fragment. The survey tool uses colours to indicate how far you are from the fragment. For example, red when you are far away, yellow when you are getting closer and green when you are very close to a fragment. You need to collect these Fragments for your Research Project.
Making artifacts
After you have collected the fragments, you start making your artifacts. Creating an Artifact requires between 25 to 150 Fragments. The number of Fragments you need is dependent on what Artifact you are making. Once you have collected all the Fragments that you require, simply click the Solve button and the Artifact will be completed automatically.
Other than the Fragments that you dig for your Artifact, you can also find items like Troll Tablets and Highborne Scrolls to help you to complete some artifacts. However, they may not work for all of the artifacts.
