Cataclysm Classic Archaeology Profession and Leveling Guide

Archaeology is one of the four secondary professions available to all players in Cataclysm Classic. As it is a secondary profession, it can be learned by all players without conflicting with other professions.

Archaeology involves discovering lost artifacts scattered throughout the world, locating a dig ite where an artifact might be located, and digging up the treasure.

In Cataclysm you do not need to visit different trainers to learn all ranks of professions, you can talk with any Archaeology trainer to learn all ranks in any major city.

Alliance	Horde
Harrison Jones — Stormwind	Belloc Brightblade — Orgrimmar
Doktor Professor Ironpants — Ironforge	Otoh Greyhide — Thunder Bluff
Hammon the Jaded — Darnassus	Adam Hossack — Undercity
Diya — Exodar	Elynara — Silvermoon

For levels 1-50 you will gain a skill up each time you Survey a dig site. Do not solve any artifacts during levels 1-50, save them for higher levels.

For levels 50 through 525 you will need to solve artifacts to increase your Archaeology skill. Solving common artifacts will reward 5 skill points, while rare artifacts will give 15.

When you learn Archaeology your map will show dig sites. Open your map and look at each continent for the shovel symbol, these represent a dig site. When you reach the zone the shovel symbol is in, an area will be marked in red, this is the spot where the dig site is located.

When you enter this area you will be able to use Survey, digging for artifacts. When you use Survey, a telescope will appear at your location, pointing in the direction that the artifact is in. These telescopes will display a specific color on them, each indicating how close you are to the artifact.

• Red = Artifact is very far away
• Yellow = Artifact is somewhat close
• Green = Artifact is very close

Follow these the direction these telescopes are facing and continue to use Survey until you eventually uncover a fragment.

Archaeology Fragment

There will be 3 total fragments in the area before you complete the area and a new dig site spawns in a different place on the continent, with there always being 4 dig sites active on a continent at one time.

After successfully looting fragments, you will begin to build these fragments into an artifact on the Archaeology profession page. The artifact that you build will vary depending on which races fragments you find, with each race having unique artifacts specific to them.

Archaeology Artifact

When you have enough fragments you are able to solve an artifact riddle and obtain a random artifact for the specific race.

Archaeology Artifact Solved

Race specific artifacts can only be unlocked if you farm fragments specifically for the desired race. Certain Archaeology race dig sites are only found on specific continents, listed below.

Archaeology has a wide variety of rewards including mounts, pets, toys, and even some epic items which are bind-on-account.

Item	Skill	Race & Fragments	Type
Chalice of the Mountain Kings	150	100 Dwarf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Clockwork Gnome	225	100 Dwarf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
The Innkeeper's Daughter	150	150 Dwarf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Staff of Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan	450	150 Dwarf Archaeology Fragment	Staff
Ancient Amber		100 Fossil Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Fossilized Hatchling	75	100 Fossil Archaeology Fragment	Pet
Pterrordax Hatchling	525	120 Fossil Archaeology Fragment	Pet
Extinct Turtle Shell	450	150 Fossil Archaeology Fragment	Shield
Fossilized Raptor	150	100 Fossil Archaeology Fragment	Mount
Druid and Priest Statue Set	150	100 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Highborne Soul Mirror	150	100 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Kaldorei Wind Chimes	225	98 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Bones of Transformation	450	150 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Queen Azshara's Dressing Gown	225	100 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Cloth Chest
Tyrande's Favorite Doll	450	150 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Trinket
Wisp Amulet	450	150 Night Elf Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Haunted War Drum		100 Troll Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Voodoo Figurine		100 Troll Archaeology Fragment	Pet
Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds	450	150 Troll Archaeology Fragment	2H Sword
Arrival of the Naaru	300	124 Draenei Archaeology Fragment	Toy
The Last Relic of Argus	300	130 Draenei Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Headdress of the First Shaman	300	130 Orc Archaeology Fragment	Mail Helm
Blessing of the Old God	375	140 Nerubian Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron	375	140 Nerubian Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Vrykul Drinking Horn		100 Vrykul Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Nifflevar Bearded Axe	375	130 Vrykul Archaeology Fragment	1H Axe
Crawling Claw	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	Pet
Pendant of the Scarab Storm	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	Toy
Ring of the Boy Emperor	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	Ring
Scepter of Azj'Aqir	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	Mount
Scimitar of the Sirocco	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	1H Sword
Staff of Ammunae	450	150 Tol'vir Archaeology Fragment	Staff

Archaeology is just one of the many professions you may choose to level in Cataclysm Classic. To learn more about the other options available, we recommend checking out our overviews of all professions and their unique bonuses below.