Archaeology/Training

This content is part of the Atlas of Discovery Expansion.

This article is about training the Archaeology skill. For the skill itself, see Archaeology.

Archaeology

Exploring in Cartography

Before Archaeology can be started, the player must discover a Dig Site on the Cartography map. Once the map hex (13, 17) is completely surveyed, follow the pop-up or click Show Discovery when the hex is selected to activate the first Dig Site.

Further exploration within the map of Melvor will be required to unlock other Dig Sites. Some Dig Site hexes will only be discoverable once a specific item is found at least once in the Archaeology Skill. After obtaining the item, the Dig Site location will be shown with a green exclamation mark. A table showing these unlock items is below.

Dig Site Map Upgrading and Refinement

Discovering a Dig Site rewards the player with an Excellent tier Dig Site Map, which should be enough to discover most of the artefacts at least once. Only spend the time to upgrade a Dig Site Map if you are going for a more rare item, or if you have used up your free Dig Site Map.

If the player has enough GP, refining a map is very useful to boost the chances on a Dig Site. -5 Artefact value and +1 minimum Items found are the most useful refinements. Be strategic when choosing which size artefact to refine, for example, it is often more efficient to focus on one rare or legendary artefact per map, rather than trying to obtain all of them in one attempt.

The base interval for map upgrading is 5.00 seconds, but there are a lot of boosts available after you have completed Cartography, such as the Old Spyglass, the / Superior Cartography Skillcape as well as all of the Ship Rudder Upgrades.Ideally, travel to The Monolith before crafting Paper or upgrading maps for a further boost.

Fastest Experience

Start by excavating Common and Uncommon artefacts of all sizes in every available Dig Site. Submit one of every new artefact in the Museum tab to obtain milestone rewards. Prioritize discovering new Dig Sites in Cartography instead of getting the Rare, Very Rare, and Legendary items, unless they are items which unlock other Dig Sites or are desirable for other Skills.

Tool Upgrades

Shop upgrades should be purchased as soon as they are available. This will increase the overall Tool Level which determines excavation chance. This table lists upgrades which are not easily obtainable.

	Level	Required Item		Size	Rarity
Aranite Sieve	25	Aranite Sieve	Old Village	Tiny	Uncommon
Aranite Trowel	25	Aranite Trowel	Ancient Market	Small	Uncommon
Aranite Brush	25	Aranite Brush	Monuments	Medium	Rare
Aranite Shovel	25	Aranite Shovel	Stoneworkers	Large	Uncommon
Ancient Sieve	75	Ancient Sieve	Ancient Forge	Tiny	Very Rare
Ancient Trowel	75	Ancient Trowel	Ancient Forge	Small	Very Rare
Ancient Brush	75	Ancient Brush	Ancient Forge	Medium	Very Rare
Ancient Shovel	75	Ancient Shovel	Ancient Forge	Large	Very Rare
Dark Steel Sieve	100	Darksteel Bar	Secret Mines	Medium	Rare
Dark Steel Trowel	100	Darksteel Bar	Secret Mines	Medium	Rare
Dark Steel Brush	100	Darksteel Bar	Secret Mines	Medium	Rare
Dark Steel Shovel	100	Darksteel Bar	Secret Mines	Medium	Rare
Crystal Sieve	95	Pure Crystal Binding Dust	Crystal Depths	N/A	N/A
Crystal Trowel	95	Pure Crystal Binding Dust	Crystal Depths	N/A	N/A
Crystal Brush	95	Pure Crystal Binding Dust	Crystal Depths	N/A	N/A
Crystal Shovel	95	Pure Crystal Binding Dust	Crystal Depths	N/A	N/A
Relic Sieve	118	Relic Sieve	Melantis	Tiny	Legendary
Relic Trowel	118	Relic Trowel	Melantis	Small	Legendary
Relic Brush	118	Relic Brush	Melantis	Medium	Legendary
Relic Shovel	118	Relic Shovel	Melantis	Large	Legendary

Dig Site Unlock Items

	Dig Site Unlocked	Size	Rarity	Item	Description
Old Village	Ancient Market	Large	Uncommon	Torn Chart	Details the location of the Ancient Market Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Old Village	Sacrificial Site	Medium	Rare	Cult Flyer	A flyer detailing the location of the Sacrificial Site (Dig Site) in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Ancient Market	Bazaar	Large	Very Rare	City Chart	A map detailing the location of the Bazaar Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Monuments	Melantis	Small	Very Rare	Melantis Clue 1
Monuments	Watchtower	Large	Uncommon	Island Chart	A chart detailing the location of the Watchtower Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Monuments	Castle Ruins	Large	Rare	Navigation Chart	A chart detailing the location of the Castle Ruins Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Secret Mines	Ancient Forge	Medium	Very Rare	Shipment Chart	A chart detailing the location of the Ancient Forge Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Ritual Site	Lost Temple	Medium	Very Rare	Old Temple Chart	A chart detailing the location of the Lost Temple Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.
Cathedral	Shipwreck Cove	Large	Very Rare	Ancient Wall Chart	A chart detailing the location of the Shipwreck Cove Dig Site in Cartography. An icon has now appeared displaying its location. You can sell this item.

Boosters

XP

The following things can be used to increase the amount of Archaeology XP received.

Source	Type	XP Boost	Other Modifiers
Pit Jump	Agility Obstacle 3	+3% Global Skill XP	-4% Agility Skill XP
Cave Trail	Agility Obstacle 4	+6% Archaeology Skill XP	+5% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions +6% Archaeology Mastery XP
Tree Climb	Agility Obstacle 5	+4% Global Skill XP	-10% Ammo Preservation -10% Chance to Preserve Resources in Skills -10% Rune Preservation +3% Global Mastery XP
A Lovely Jog	Agility Obstacle 8	+5% Global Skill XP	-6% Global Mastery XP
Nysa	Constellation	+8% Archaeology Skill XP	-5% dig site map refinement cost -5% Cartography survey interval +5% Chance to Double Items in Archaeology +5% Chance to Double Items in Cartography +8% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions +8% Archaeology Mastery XP +8% Cartography Skill XP
Ancient Ring of Skills	Item (Ring)	+8% non-Combat Skill XP
Archaeologist Body	Item (Platebody)	+5% Archaeology Skill XP
Archaeologist Boots	Item (Boots)	+5% Archaeology Skill XP
Archaeologist Gloves	Item (Gloves)	+5% Archaeology Skill XP
Archaeologist Hat	Item (Helmet)	+5% Archaeology Skill XP
Archaeologist Leggings	Item (Platelegs)	+5% Archaeology Skill XP
Archaeologist's Whip	Item (Weapon)	+4% Archaeology Skill XP	+4% Archaeology Mastery XP
Book of Scholars	Item (Shield, Passive)	+3% Global Skill XP	-15% Global GP (except Item Sales)
Candelabra (Lit)	Item (Consumable)	+4% non-Combat Skill XP	-3% Interval for all non-Combat Skills +4% Global Mastery XP +3% Chance to Preserve Resources in Skills
Cape of Completion	Item (Cape)	+5% Global Skill XP	Bypass Slayer Area item requirements for areas that require less than level 100 Slayer -20% Agility Obstacle Build Costs -50% Prayer Point Cost for Prayers (Prayer Point cost cannot go below 1) -0.5s Thieving Interval -0.5s Crafting Interval -15% Woodcutting Interval -15% Cooking Interval -50% Coal Costs for Smithing -15% Township Building Cost (Does not affect GP cost. Capped at -80%) x2 Items received from Fishing x2 Items received from Fletching x2 Items received from Herblore Create +5 Additional Runes of the same type in Runecrafting +50% Ammo Preservation +1 to base drop quantity of Stardust and Golden Stardust from Astrology +1 Coal Ore per Ore Mined. (Item doubling does not apply) +100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +2% Global Perfect Cook chance +100% chance to successfully Cook an item +15% Chance to Double Items in Runecrafting +5% Damage To Slayer Tasks +25% Farming Yield +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking +10% GP From Agility +100% GP From Thieving +10 Flat Hitpoints Regeneration +25% Mastery Pool XP Cap Items that reduce Rune costs are now 2x as effective +20% Chance to Preserve Resources in Summoning +25% Flat Slayer Area Effect Negation +10% Chance to preserve Summoning Charges +10 Base Quantity for Summoning Tablet Creation +150 Stealth while Thieving
Firemaking Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+5% Global Skill XP	+100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking
Golden Wreath	Item (Helmet, Passive)	+3% non-Combat Skill XP	+100 GP gained when earning GP, except Alt. Magic and Item Sales +3% Global Mastery XP
Maximum Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+5% Global Skill XP	Bypass Slayer Area item requirements for areas that require less than level 100 Slayer -20% Agility Obstacle Build Costs -50% Prayer Point Cost for Prayers (Prayer Point cost cannot go below 1) -0.5s Thieving Interval -0.5s Crafting Interval -15% Woodcutting Interval -15% Cooking Interval -50% Coal Costs for Smithing -15% Township Building Cost (Does not affect GP cost. Capped at -80%) x2 Items received from Fishing x2 Items received from Fletching x2 Items received from Herblore Create +5 Additional Runes of the same type in Runecrafting +50% Ammo Preservation +1 to base drop quantity of Stardust and Golden Stardust from Astrology +1 Coal Ore per Ore Mined. (Item doubling does not apply) +100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +2% Global Perfect Cook chance +100% chance to successfully Cook an item +15% Chance to Double Items in Runecrafting +5% Damage To Slayer Tasks +25% Farming Yield +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking +10% GP From Agility +100% GP From Thieving +10 Flat Hitpoints Regeneration Items that reduce Rune costs are now 2x as effective +20% Chance to Preserve Resources in Summoning +25% Flat Slayer Area Effect Negation +10% Chance to preserve Summoning Charges +10 Base Quantity for Summoning Tablet Creation +150 Stealth while Thieving
Skillers Body	Item (Platebody)	+2% non-Combat Skill XP
Skillers Boots	Item (Boots)	+2% non-Combat Skill XP
Skillers Hat	Item (Helmet)	+2% non-Combat Skill XP
Skillers Leggings	Item (Platelegs)	+2% non-Combat Skill XP
Superior Cape of Completion	Item (Cape)	+8% Global Skill XP	Bypass All Slayer Area item requirements -30% Agility Obstacle Build Costs -20% Agility Pillar build costs -75% Prayer Point Cost for Prayers (Prayer Point cost cannot go below 1) -0.8s Thieving Interval -0.8s Crafting Interval -20% Woodcutting Interval -25% Cooking Interval -10% Summoning Interval -10% Astrology Interval -75% Coal Costs for Smithing -20% Township Building Cost (Does not affect GP cost. Capped at -80%) x2 Items received from Fishing x2 Items received from Fletching x2 Items received from Herblore Create +8 Additional Runes of the same type in Runecrafting +75% Ammo Preservation +2 to base drop quantity of Stardust and Golden Stardust from Astrology +1 Bolts produced per action in Fletching +2 Coal Ore per Ore Mined. (Item doubling does not apply) +50% Chance to gain +1 additional bar in Smithing (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Fishing (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Fletching (Cannot be doubled) +15% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Crafting (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Herblore (Cannot be doubled) +20% Chance to Double Farming Yield +100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +100% chance to receive Charcoal per burn in Firemaking +4% Global Perfect Cook chance +100% chance to successfully Cook an item +20% chance to avoid the stun interval and stun damage in Thieving when pickpocket attempt fails +25% Chance to Double Items in Runecrafting +1% chance to find a Lost Chest while Fishing (This is separate to the Special Fishing Chance) +5% Chance to Preserve Food when eaten +5% Chance To Preserve Potion Charge +5% Chance To Preserve Prayer Points +8% Damage To Slayer Tasks +40% Farming Yield +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking +20% GP From Agility +150% GP From Thieving +5% Chance to find gem veins when Mining +15 Flat Hitpoints Regeneration +5% Lifesteal +5% Magic Damage Bonus from Equipment +5% Melee Strength Bonus from Equipment +1 minimum Bird Nest's received from Woodcutting +5% of Maximum Hit added to Minimum Hit +5% Ranged Strength Bonus from Equipment +5% Reflect Damage +10% Rune Preservation Items that reduce Rune costs are now 4x as effective +25% Chance to Preserve Resources in Summoning +35% Flat Slayer Area Effect Negation +10% Slayer Coins +15% Chance to preserve Summoning Charges +10 Base Quantity for Summoning Tablet Creation +10% Summoning Maximum Hit +270 Stealth while Thieving
Superior Firemaking Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+8% Global Skill XP	+100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +100% chance to receive Charcoal per burn in Firemaking +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking
Superior Max Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+8% Global Skill XP	Bypass All Slayer Area item requirements -30% Agility Obstacle Build Costs -20% Agility Pillar build costs -75% Prayer Point Cost for Prayers (Prayer Point cost cannot go below 1) -0.8s Thieving Interval -0.8s Crafting Interval -20% Woodcutting Interval -25% Cooking Interval -10% Summoning Interval -10% Astrology Interval -75% Coal Costs for Smithing -20% Township Building Cost (Does not affect GP cost. Capped at -80%) x2 Items received from Fishing x2 Items received from Fletching x2 Items received from Herblore Create +8 Additional Runes of the same type in Runecrafting +75% Ammo Preservation +2 to base drop quantity of Stardust and Golden Stardust from Astrology +1 Bolts produced per action in Fletching +2 Coal Ore per Ore Mined. (Item doubling does not apply) +50% Chance to gain +1 additional bar in Smithing (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Fishing (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Fletching (Cannot be doubled) +15% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Crafting (Cannot be doubled) +100% Chance to gain +1 additional resource in Herblore (Cannot be doubled) +20% Chance to Double Farming Yield +100% chance to receive Ash per log burnt in Firemaking +100% chance to receive Charcoal per burn in Firemaking +4% Global Perfect Cook chance +100% chance to successfully Cook an item +20% chance to avoid the stun interval and stun damage in Thieving when pickpocket attempt fails +25% Chance to Double Items in Runecrafting +1% chance to find a Lost Chest while Fishing (This is separate to the Special Fishing Chance) +5% Chance to Preserve Food when eaten +5% Chance To Preserve Potion Charge +5% Chance To Preserve Prayer Points +8% Damage To Slayer Tasks +40% Farming Yield +100% chance to receive coal when burning logs in Firemaking +20% GP From Agility +150% GP From Thieving +5% Chance to find gem veins when Mining +15 Flat Hitpoints Regeneration +5% Lifesteal +5% Magic Damage Bonus from Equipment +5% Melee Strength Bonus from Equipment +1 minimum Bird Nest's received from Woodcutting +5% of Maximum Hit added to Minimum Hit +5% Ranged Strength Bonus from Equipment +5% Reflect Damage +10% Rune Preservation Items that reduce Rune costs are now 4x as effective +25% Chance to Preserve Resources in Summoning +35% Flat Slayer Area Effect Negation +10% Slayer Coins +15% Chance to preserve Summoning Charges +10 Base Quantity for Summoning Tablet Creation +10% Summoning Maximum Hit +270 Stealth while Thieving
100 Hexes Mastered	Mastery Bonus	+5% Global Skill XP
Pyro	Pet	+1% Global Skill XP
Dig Site Token	Upgrade	+6% Archaeology Skill XP

Artefact Excavation Boosts

This table lists most sources of Archaeology-specific modifier boosts.

Source	Type	Artefact Boosts	Other Modifiers
Cave Trail	Agility Obstacle 4	+5% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions	+6% Archaeology Mastery XP +6% Archaeology Skill XP
Ocean Drifting	Agility Obstacle 9	+10% Chance to Double Items in Archaeology	-10% dig site map refinement cost -5% Cartography Interval +10% Chance to Double Items in Cartography
Nysa	Constellation	+5% Chance to Double Items in Archaeology +8% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions	-5% dig site map refinement cost -5% Cartography survey interval +5% Chance to Double Items in Cartography +8% Archaeology Mastery XP +8% Archaeology Skill XP +8% Cartography Skill XP
Archaeology Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology +10% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions +1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology +1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology +1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Cape of Completion (Atlas of Discovery)	Item (Cape)	+3 levels of the Brush Tool in Archaeology +15% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions +1 minimum Items found in Archaeology +3 levels of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology +3 levels of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology +3 levels of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology	-20% dig site map refinement cost -50% Cartography Dig Site Map upgrade interval -30% Cartography survey interval +20% Chance to Preserve Resources in Cartography
Old Scripture	Item (Consumable)	+1 minimum Items found in Archaeology
Superior Archaeology Skillcape	Item (Cape)	+3 levels of the Brush Tool in Archaeology +15% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions +1 minimum Items found in Archaeology +3 levels of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology +3 levels of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology +3 levels of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Warren	Pet	+5% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions
The Monolith	Point of Interest	+5% chance to preserve dig site map excavation actions	-5% Cartography Dig Site Map upgrade interval +5% Chance to Preserve Resources in Cartography
Adamant Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Adamant Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Adamant Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Adamant Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Ancient Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Ancient Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Ancient Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Ancient Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Aranite Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Aranite Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Aranite Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Aranite Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Crystal Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Crystal Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Crystal Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Crystal Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Dark Steel Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Dark Steel Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Dark Steel Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Dark Steel Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Dragon Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Dragon Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Dragon Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Dragon Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Iron Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Iron Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Iron Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Iron Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Mithril Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Mithril Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Mithril Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Mithril Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Relic Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Relic Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Relic Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Relic Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Rune Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Rune Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Rune Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Rune Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology
Steel Brush	Upgrade	+1 level of the Brush Tool in Archaeology
Steel Shovel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Shovel Tool in Archaeology
Steel Sieve	Upgrade	+1 level of the Sieve Tool in Archaeology
Steel Trowel	Upgrade	+1 level of the Trowel Tool in Archaeology

Action Time

This table lists most sources of boosts to the speed of Dig Site excavation.

Source	Type	Action Interval	Other Modifiers
Elite Pillar of Expertise	Agility Pillar	-3% Interval for all non-Combat Skills	+8% Chance to Double Items Globally +40% Global GP (except Item Sales) +8% Global Mastery XP
Archaeologist's Consumable	Item (Consumable)	-10% Archaeology Interval
Candelabra (Lit)	Item (Consumable)	-3% Interval for all non-Combat Skills	+4% Global Mastery XP +3% Chance to Preserve Resources in Skills +4% non-Combat Skill XP
Golden Trowel	Item (Shield)	-10% Archaeology Interval	+8% Archaeology Mastery XP
944 Hexes Mastered	Mastery Bonus	-3% Interval for all non-Combat Skills	-3% Attack Interval
Harold	Pet	-2% Interval for all non-Combat Skills	-0.1s Attack Interval -0.2s Monster Respawn Timer +3% Ammo Preservation +2% Chance to Double Items Globally +3% Chance To Preserve Potion Charge +5% Global GP (except Item Sales) +5% Accuracy Rating +5% Global Evasion +5% Global Mastery XP +50% Mastery Pool XP Cap +2% of Maximum Hit added to Minimum Hit +3% Rune Preservation +5% Slayer Coins +3% Chance to preserve Summoning Charges