Tutorial:Archaeology

Archaeology is a mechanic in Minecraft where the player can excavate structures, brush off suspicious blocks, and obtain old loot. It is one of the only ways to obtain sherds and the only way to obtain four types of smithing templates and sniffer eggs.

Archaeology mechanics

Some naturally generated structures can contain suspicious blocks. These come in the form of suspicious sand and suspicious gravel. Depending on where they are found, these blocks contain various loot, which can be extracted from the block with a brush. These can be crafted with a feather, copper ingot, and a stick. Using the brush on a suspicious block for five seconds gives loot, while destroying the suspicious block gives nothing.

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Feather + Copper Ingot + Stick

Excavating trail ruins

Trail ruins appear in taiga, snowy taiga, old growth spruce taiga, old growth pine taiga, old growth birch forest, and the jungle, so you should look for them in any of those biomes. Their vibrant colors of terracotta would stand out from the wood and leaves, making them harder to miss. Jungles, with their erratic terrain, are more likely to have exposed trail ruins, although the jungle's thick foliage may make them harder to spot from afar.

Most likely, all you will see of a trail ruins is the top of a building. Dig around the building until you find a road of cobblestone, gravel, and dirt. This road will touch every other building in the structure, making it much easier to find them than if you tried to mine every block in the area. In the process, you may encounter the tops of other buildings, made of Stained Terracotta, Bricks, or Mud Bricks.

A powered Beacon providing Haste can be very useful for speeding up excavation, though caution must also be exercised to not break unintended blocks, and extreme attention should be paid for the suspicious blocks. Suspicious gravel can be distinguished from normal gravel by a darker patch of pixels near the center of the block face, and it also produce a different sound when walked upon. They are very fragile, breaking instantly when falling down, moved by a piston, and even left-clicked on by any other shovel higher than an unenchanted iron one. Unless you are very careful by yourself, having a normal iron shovel may help prevent accidentally destroying them.

Bring in light sources to light up the area or use Night Vision potions; it is way easier to differentiate suspicious blocks from the normal ones than in the dark. Use your brush to extract the loot from the suspicious blocks right after you find one; do not mine any block before completing the brush or you risk losing the potential rewards. If you are going to mine out a block, make sure the block above it is not a suspicious gravel block.

Loot

In Java Edition, each trail ruin's suspicious gravel contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Brick	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Brown Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Clay	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Emerald	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Green Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Light Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Orange Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Purple Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Red Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Wheat	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
White Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Yellow Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Beetroot Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Coal	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Dead Bush	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Flower Pot	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Lead	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Light Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Magenta Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Oak Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Pink Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Purple Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Red Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Spruce Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
String	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Wheat Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Yellow Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Gold Nugget	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0

In Bedrock Edition, each trail ruin's suspicious gravel contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Brick	1	⁴⁄₄₆	8.7%	0.087	11.5
Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Brown Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Clay Ball	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Emerald	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Green Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Light Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Orange Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Purple Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Red Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Wheat	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
White Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Yellow Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Beetroot Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Dead Bush	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Flower Pot	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Lead	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Light Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Magenta Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Oak Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Pink Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Purple Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Red Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Spruce Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
String	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Wheat Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Yellow Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Gold Nugget	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0

↑ ^a ^b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ ^a ^b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ ^a ^b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ ^a ^b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ ^a ^b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each trail ruin's rare suspicious gravel contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Burn Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Danger Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Music Disc (Relic)	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Friend Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heart Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heartbreak Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Host Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Howl Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Raiser Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Shaper Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Sheaf Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Wayfinder Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0

↑ The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

Excavating desert pyramids

Desert pyramids generate in desert biomes. Though being the same color as the surrounding sand, they are easily identified by their pyramid shaped roofs.

In the back of the temple (either to the left or right), there is an archeology room. It is a hole in the floor filled with sand, some of which is suspicious. It is best to go through the sand one layer at a time from top to bottom. It may be wise to light the area to easily see the sand and to prevent monsters from spawning.

Loot

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each desert temple's suspicious sand contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Archer Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Emerald	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Gunpowder	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Miner Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Prize Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Skull Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
TNT	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Diamond	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0

↑ The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

Excavating Ocean Ruins

Ocean ruins are found in ocean biomes and rarely on beaches. A good way to find them is to look along the horizon while rowing in the ocean. Try to look for tall protruding structures.

Because of their location underwater it is hard to safely excavate them. It is best to either drink water breathing potions, wear armor enchanted with respiration, aqua affinity, and depth strider, or place a magma block nearby. If you happen to find a ruin that is buried, mine down to the base where the suspicious blocks generate. If it is deep enough, you may be able to mine around without risk of drowning or drowned. Suspicious sand in warm ocean ruins is the only initial source of sniffer eggs.

Loot

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each cold ocean ruin's suspicious gravel contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Coal	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Emerald	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Wheat	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Gold Nugget	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Blade Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Explorer Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Mourner Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Plenty Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Iron Axe	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0

↑ The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each warm ocean ruin's suspicious sand contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Coal	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Emerald	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Wheat	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Gold Nugget	1	²⁄₁₅	13.3%	0.133	7.5
Angler Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Shelter Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Sniffer Egg	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Snort Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0
Iron Axe	1	¹⁄₁₅	6.7%	0.067	15.0

↑ The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

Excavating desert wells

Desert wells generate in desert biomes. They can easily be found as they are quite common.

Though easy to find, desert wells only have two suspicious sand. These generally do not have worthwhile loot.

Loot

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each desert well's suspicious sand contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per block ^[D]	Avg. # blocks to brush ^[E]
Arms Up Pottery Sherd	1	²⁄₈	25.0%	0.250	4.0
Brewer Pottery Sherd	1	²⁄₈	25.0%	0.250	4.0
Brick	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Emerald	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Stick	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Suspicious Stew^[F]	1	¹⁄₈	12.5%	0.125	8.0

↑ The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
↑ The stew grants one of the following effects: in Java Edition, 5–7 seconds of Blindness, 7–10 seconds of Jump Boost, 7-10 seconds of Night Vision, 10–20 seconds of Poison, 0.35-0.5 seconds of Saturation, or 6–8 seconds of Weakness; in Bedrock Edition, 7 seconds of Blindness, 5 seconds of Jump Boost, 5 seconds of Night Vision, 11 seconds of Poison, 0.3 seconds of Saturation, or 7 seconds of Weakness.

Navigation

[stacksize-1] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-2] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-3] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-4] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-5] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-6] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-7] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-8] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-9] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-10] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-11] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-12] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-13] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-14] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-15] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-16] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-17] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-18] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-19] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-20] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-21] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-22] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-23] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-24] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-25] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-26] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-27] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-28] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-29] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-30] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[suspicious-stew-31] The stew grants one of the following effects: in Java Edition, 5–7 seconds of Blindness, 7–10 seconds of Jump Boost, 7-10 seconds of Night Vision, 10–20 seconds of Poison, 0.35-0.5 seconds of Saturation, or 6–8 seconds of Weakness; in Bedrock Edition, 7 seconds of Blindness, 5 seconds of Jump Boost, 5 seconds of Night Vision, 11 seconds of Poison, 0.3 seconds of Saturation, or 7 seconds of Weakness.

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Tutorial:Archaeology

Archaeology mechanics

Excavating trail ruins

Loot

Excavating desert pyramids

Loot

Excavating Ocean Ruins

Loot

Excavating desert wells

Loot

See also

Navigation