How do archaeologists protect the artifacts they find?

Answer 1

"Some artifacts, like basketry and complete vessels, are very fragile and must be removed from the ground and handled with extreme care. Sometimes we pack this type of artifact in protective cushioning inside small cardboard boxes until we get them to our analysis laboratory. Broken pottery (or sherds) and stone tools are very durable and need no special handling. The hardest artifacts to protect over a long period of time are things that deteriorate when they are exposed to the air, like basketry, cotton cloth, and yucca sandals. Museums and “curation facilities” (places that store artifacts) have developed special techniques for protecting and preserving artifacts. They maintain artifacts at constant temperatures, control the humidity, and wrap the materials in acid-free storage paper. In fact, museum conservation is a specialized field of work."
http://www.crowcanyon.org/EducationProducts/archaeologists_online/04_archaeology.htm#8

JMB

Answer 2

very carefully with a light touch, something a male likes to do to a female.

Answer 3

air tight containers
locked doors
guards