Archaeology

Archaeology is an upcoming mechanic that allows the player to find history. This mechanic was originally intended to be part of the Caves & Cliffs update, but it has been delayed to 1.20. This feature is currently available in snapshots for Java Edition 1.19.4, and betas/previews for Bedrock Edition 1.19.70.

Discovering artifacts
By using a Brush on Suspicious Sand at desert pyramids and desert wells, players can obtain artifacts and other loot, such as Gunpowder, Emeralds, and Pottery Shards. If the player breaks or drops the block of suspicious sand, they permanently break these artifacts. Pottery Shards can be used to add decoration to Decorated Pots.

Blocks

 * Decorated Pot (E) JE1.png
 * Can be crafted with any 4 pottery shards or brick items, shaped rhombic.
 * The type of crafting material decides which picture would occur on the certain side of the crafted decorated pot.
 * The possibile pictures are decided by the type of pottery shard which is used to craft.
 * The brick item will not have a picture.
 * Very fragile, and very easy to break it:
 * Will broke apart into its crafting materials when breaking it using any block-breaking tool.
 * Will drop itself when breaking it using empty hand.


 * Suspicious Sand JE1 BE1.png
 * Generates in desert temples and desert wells.
 * Brushing the suspicious sand with a brush will extract objects.

Items

 * Brush JE1 BE1.png
 * An item which can be used to brush things.
 * Can be crafted with 3 string and 2 sticks, like the shape of crafting pickaxes.


 * Pottery Shard (Archer) JE1.png Pottery Shard (Arms Up) JE1.png Pottery Shard (Prize) JE1.png Pottery Shard (Skull) JE1.png
 * They have pictures on them.
 * They cannot be crafted and are only found by brushing suspicious sand.

Gameplay



 * The player can find items in Suspicious Sand inside a desert pyramid or desert well by using the brush.
 * The items include:
 * Ceramic shards that depict different images.

Structures

 * Excavation Site


 * Seen during the Minecraft Live 2020 stream.
 * Consists of wool tents and a large pit containing rubble.

Issues
Issues relating to "Archaeology" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.