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.

Additions

Blocks

Decorated Pot

• 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

• Generates in desert temples and desert wells.
• Brushing the suspicious sand with a brush will extract objects.

Items

Brush

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

File:Pottery Shard (Archer) JE1.png File:Pottery Shard (Arms Up) JE1.png File:Pottery Shard (Prize) JE1.png File:Pottery Shard (Skull) JE1.png Pottery Shard

• They have pictures on them.
• They cannot be crafted and are only found by brushing suspicious sand.

Gameplay

Archaeology

• The player can find items in Suspicious Sand inside a desert pyramid or desert well by using the brush.

• In desert pyramids, Suspicious Sand can contain a Pottery Shard, TNT, Gunpowder, an Emerald, or a Diamond.

• In desert wells, Suspicious Sand can contain a Pottery Shard, a Brick, an Emerald, a Stick, or Suspicious Stew.

Planned additions

Structures

Excavation Site

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

History

October 3rd, 2020					Archaeology was announced.
April 14th, 2021					Archaeology was delayed.
November 17th, 2021					Archaeology was delayed again.
February 10th, 2023					Archaeology has been announced to be coming in 1.20.
Upcoming Java Edition
1.20 (experimental)		23w07a			Archaeology has been added.
Upcoming Bedrock Edition
Sniffer (expermiental)		beta 1.19.70.23			Archaeology has been added.

Issues

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

Gallery

Developer screenshots

• 

  Clay pots.

• 

  Ceramic shards.

• 

  An excavation site.

Concept artwork

• 

  Concept art.

References

Gameplay 

View at: Template:Gameplay/content [edit]