Cataclysm Classic Archaeology Profession and Leveling Guide
Archaeology
is the newest profession added in during Cataclysm. This profession allows
players to dig up ancient relics, giving players items that sell for high amounts
of gold, unique toys, mounts, and even powerful account bound epic items.
Luckily, Archaeology
is a secondary profession, allowing anyone to acquire it. In this guide we will
show you all the different items you can scavenge up with Archaeology and the
best way to level up this new profession.
Cataclysm Archaeology
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.
Training Archaeology in Cataclysm
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.
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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 |
Leveling Archaeology in Cataclysm
Levels 1-50
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.
Levels 50-525
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.
Archaeology Surveying
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.
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.
Solving Archaeology Artifacts
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.
When you have enough fragments you are able to solve an artifact riddle and obtain a random artifact for the specific race.
Archaeology Race Locations
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.
Skill | Zone | Race |
1 | Eastern Kingdoms & Kalimdor | Dwarf, Fossil, Night Elf, Troll |
300 | Outland | Draenei, Orc |
375 | Northrend | Nerubian, Vrykul |
450 | Uldum | Tol'vir |
Archaeology Rewards
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 |
---|---|---|---|
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150 | 100 ![]() |
Toy |
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225 | 100 ![]() |
Toy |
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150 | 150 ![]() |
Toy |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Staff |
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100 ![]() |
Toy | |
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75 | 100 ![]() |
Pet |
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525 | 120 ![]() |
Pet |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Shield |
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150 | 100 ![]() |
Mount |
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150 | 100 ![]() |
Toy |
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150 | 100 ![]() |
Toy |
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225 | 98 ![]() |
Toy |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Toy |
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225 | 100 ![]() |
Cloth Chest |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Trinket |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Toy |
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100 ![]() |
Toy | |
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100 ![]() |
Pet | |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
2H Sword |
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300 | 124 ![]() |
Toy |
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300 | 130 ![]() |
Toy |
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300 | 130 ![]() |
Mail Helm |
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375 | 140 ![]() |
Toy |
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375 | 140 ![]() |
Toy |
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100 ![]() |
Toy | |
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375 | 130 ![]() |
1H Axe |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Pet |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Toy |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Ring |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Mount |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
1H Sword |
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450 | 150 ![]() |
Staff |
Other Professions
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.
Changelog
- 30 Jul. 2024: Page reviewed for phase two.
- 15 May 2024: Added page.
This guide has been written by Abide, TBC veteran for nearly a decade. Abide is a Warrior tank and multi-class expert currently playing on Faerlina as Horde. You can find him in the the Icy Veins Discord. You can also see him live on Twitch.
- Hour of Twilight Arrives to Cataclysm Classic on February 18th + Raid Release Schedule
- Season of Discovery Hotfixes: February 4th
- Transfers from Hardcore Realms Temporarily Disabled
- Cataclysm Classic Hour of Twilight PTR Notes: January 30th
- Season of Discovery Hotfixes: January 30th
- Season of Discovery Naxxramas PTR Development Notes: January 30th
- Season of Discovery Phase 7 Now Live + Patch Notes
- Additional Sanctified System and Seal of the Dawn Adjustments in Season of Discovery Phase 7