The Archaeology update was one of the biggest releases ever to grace RuneScape, which introduced a new gathering skill that allowed players to excavate and restore artifacts. This profession provides players with several essential features to help them in their RuneScape playthrough. This guide will help you reach level 99, so you can grind to 120 immediately.
Why You Should Get Archaeology
It might be apparent to few players what they will get from doing this specific profession. However, this life skill has some of the most significant advantages in the game and can be accessed by gamers. Here are some of the core reasons why you should get Archaeology:
- Skilling Off-hands
- Relic Powers
Two of the four craftable Skilling Off-hands available in the game require level 102 Archaeology to be created. The Artificer's measure provides bonuses to Crafting and Construction, and the Orthen Furnace Core gives buffs to Firemaking and Smithing. If you are involved in these four professions, you must level up your Archaeology to craft the corresponding Skilling Off-hand.
Access to Relic Powers is the main boon of investing in Archaeology. These bonuses provide significant boosts to your character stats that can help you in various situations. The powers obtained from Monoliths can significantly improve your skilling or bossing activities, and these buffs are only accessible if you have enough Chronotes and the required relic. Since you can have up to three powers simultaneously, ensuring you have access to the best ones will be in your best interests.
Core Features of Archaeology
Now that you know how significant Archaeology is, you can start your journey into becoming one, but you must understand how this profession works. The whole process has three steps, but only two are needed. Here are all the activities involved in Archaeology:
Excavating
This step is the primary step in Excavating. This is trying to salvage buried items by identifying the soil type, looking for a hotspot, finding materials to repair treasures, and recovering artifacts. Most of your Archaeology tools will be mainly used in this process, so you should aim to get the best equipment for this step.
Screening
This is an optional step in Archaeology but provides worthwhile rewards. During or after Excavating the hotspots, you could screen the soil to see if you missed any more loot. This is a good way of gaining materials for repairing artifacts. However, since this is not required, you can skip this part to go straight to Repairing.
Repairing
This step is where you attempt to repair artifacts you have collected from Excavating or Screening, and it is also where the bulk of your experience will come from. You will need suitable materials to fix these items, which is more challenging than it looks. You will be spending the majority of your time looking for enough components to repair the artifacts you recovered. After fixing the relics, you can turn them over to certain NPCs to get Chronotes, which you can exchange for various offers.
Getting to Level 99
Once you've gotten the core activities down, it is time to start grinding your levels. Before training in Archaeology, you must finish this profession's tutorial quest. It would help if you looked for Acting Guildmaster Reiniger, who can be found at the Archaeology Campus East of Varrock. She will provide you with essential tools, such as a Bronze Mattock, before she sends you to a series of quests. By the end of the tutorial, you will be recognized as an Intern for this profession.
After you finish the tutorial, you will travel to different locations to start Excavating. Players must spend a lot of time in other places at each level bracket. Here is how you progress from level 1 to 99:
Varrock Digsite (Level 1 to 5)
This zone is where you will complete your tutorial for Archeology. Finishing the whole guide quests will get you to level 5. After reaching this first milestone, you will be automatically moved to the Kharid-et in the Al-Kharid region. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Centurion's dress sword
Venator Remains in Kharid-et (Levels 5 to 12)
When you reach this area, you start excavating wherever possible. By level 10, you should be able to start digging out debris preventing you from accessing the doorway to more dig sites in Karid-et. Once you have unlocked the entrance, interact with Dr. Nabanik to obtain a jewel you need to repair. Finish excavating the door until you can place the gem on it, which should yield enough experience for you to reach level 12. If you need more experience, you should spend more time excavating nearby. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Venator Dager
- Damaged Light Crossbow
Legionary Remains in Kharid-et (Level 12 to 17)
After reaching level 12, you should proceed to the Legionary Remains and excavate there until you get 17. Make sure you have talked to Liam before you dig so that you can start collecting journal pages. The prison door next to this NPC requires four pages to be unlocked, leading to future excavation areas that you will work on. Once you have collected all the necessary items and got the broken dial from Liam, you must hit the following order to open the door: Shadow > Blood > Smoke > Ice. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Legionary Gladius
- Damaged Square Shield
- Damaged Primis Elementis Standard
Castra Debris in Kharid-et (Level 17 to 20)
By level 17, you should have access to another section of the Kharid-et dig site. The Castra Debris is just outside where you were grinding from rank 12. Continue to excavate in this area until you unlock the Infernal Source after reaching level 20. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Zaros Effigy
- Damaged Zarosian Training Dummy
Lodge Bar Storage in Infernal Source (Levels 20 to 24)
When you unlock the Infernal Source, a cutscene will occur, giving you access to the area. After the cinematic, head to the lift and down to the Lodge Bar Storage, which will be on your right. Continue to dig in this area until you reach 24. Make sure to hit chests because they can drop XP books, a Goldrune, and some Broken Dagon crest. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Hookah Pipe
- Damaged Zarosian Training Dummy
- Damaged Crest of Dagon
- Damaged 'Disorder' Painting
Administratum Debris in Kharid-et (Level 25 to 29)
Getting into this area will boost the experience you receive, but you should only move to this spot when you have obtained the necessary materials from the Lodge Bar Storage. You will need four Dagon Crests that you receive from the level 20 zone in Infernal Source to access the rank 29 area later. If you were blessed with RNG and got four Dagon Crests before hitting 29, you can farm in the Administratum until you reach the next milestone. If you weren't lucky enough to find four crests after getting level 25, you should stay in the Lodge Bar Storage and continue to look for them. Even if you get 29, only leave once you find all of them. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged Legatus Maximus Figurine
- Damaged 'Solem in Umbra' Painting
Cultist Footlocker in Infernal Source (Levels 29 to 36)
After reaching level 29, ensure you have unlocked the entrance to the next area in the Infernal Source. You must use 4 Dagon Crests to open the passage by placing them on the fireplace. This will open the route downwards to the Cultist Footlocker, where you should grind until you reach 36. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Greater Demon Mask
- Damaged Imp Mask
- Damaged Lesser Demon Mask
Sacrificial Altar in Infernal Source (Levels 36 to 42)
After reaching level 36, you should start excavating at the Sacrificial Altar near the area you arrived at when you entered the fireplace. Your aim here is to get 42 and to collect four Cultist Diary journal pages, which you will need for the Embrace the Chaos mystery. There will be a ritual circle north of the Cultist Footlocker where you must perform a ceremony, which will open a portal to another zone. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Order of Dis Robes
- Damaged Ritual Dagger
Get Assistant Qualification
After reaching level 42, you should have satisfied all the requirements to gain an Assistant Qualification. Make sure to unlock this title first because it will allow you access to Researchers. These units can be sent out on missions to gain rewards. You can also start Researching particular objects of interest to accomplish specific tasks, yielding high EXP.
Make sure that you have sent your Researchers out for quests for a total of 24 hours. In addition, you should have completed five mysteries and five logs in preparation for the Associate Qualification step.
Prodomoi Remain in Everlight (Level 42 to 45)
At this level, you will finally unlock the Everlight site. You must continuously excavate in this area until you reach level 45. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged 'Frying Pan'
- Damaged Hallowed Lantern
Dis Dungeon Debris in Infernal Source (Level 45 to 47)
After reaching 45, you must return to the Infernal Source and excavate in the Dis Dungeon Debris area. This site will provide you with enough experience to get 48 quickly. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Branding Iron
- Damaged Manacles
Praesidio Remains in Kharid-et (Level 47 to 48)
By level 47, you must return to the Kharid-et and excavate in the Praesidio Remains, which you unlocked earlier by obtaining four Custodian's Log pages. In this area, you will need to farm to 48 and find a spare pendant, which you will need to access the level 58 zone in Kharid-et. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged Ancient Timepiece
- Damaged Legatus Pendant
Monoceros Remains in Everlight (Levels 48 to 51)
Return to Everlight and grind in the Monoceros Remains area at this milestone until you reach the next bracket. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Ceremonial Unicorn Ornament
- Damaged Ceremonial Unicorn Saddle
Amphitheater Debris in Everlight (Levels 51 to 56)
The leveling process will start getting steeper from this point on, so players should prepare and be committed to the grind. To reach level 56, excavate in the Amphitheater Debris area in Everlight. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Harp
- Damaged Everlight Trumpet
- Damaged Everlight Violin
Ceramics Studio Debris in Everlight (Levels 56 to 58)
After reaching 58, you should head to the Ceramics Studio plot, accessible via a nearby door. Excavate in this place until you reach the next bracket. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Folded-arm Figurine (female)
- Damaged Folded-arm Figurine (male)
Carcerem Debris in Kharid-et (Level 58 to 61)
You must return to Kharid-et and use the spare pendant you obtained earlier to access the Carcerem Debris, the best place to farm until level 61. Ensure you keep an extra signet ring because you will need one to access the rank 74 dig site in Kharid-et. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged 'Incite Fear' Spell Scroll
- Damaged Pontifex Signet Ring
Stadio Debris in Everlight (Level 61 to 65)
The Stadio Debris is the best place to earn exp from 61 to 65. Afterward, proceed to the next area. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Dominion Discus
- Damaged Dominion Javelin
- Damaged Pette Shield
Infernal Art in Infernal Source (Levels 65 to 68)
To farm exp from 65 to 68, you need to Excavate in the Infernal Art. This place is accessible in two ways: the first is by using the portal you opened earlier, and the second is by using the lift and hitting three at the entrance of Infernal Source. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged 'Lust' Metal Sculpture
- Damaged 'The Lake of Fire' Painting
Skahroth Remains in Infernal Source (Levels 68 to 69)
The next spot to grind 68 to 69 is east of the Infernal Art. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Chaos Star
- Damaged Spiked Dog Collar
Dominion Games Podium in Everlight (Level 69 to 70)
You must satisfy two conditions at this stage: Reach level 70 and repair 250 Artifacts. For the first objective, excavate in the Dominion Games Podium in Everlight until you hit the cap. You should have already acquired 250 relics throughout your leveling experience. If you are short by a few items, you can head to the level 5 Venator Remains area and dig there until you hit the quota. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Bronze Dominion Medal
- Damaged Dominion Torch
- Damaged Silver Dominion Medal
Get Associate Qualification
By this point, you should have completed all the requirements to get the Associate title: 24 hours of Research, ten mysteries conducted, and five logs finished. Once you unlock this position, you will gain access to the autoscreener, the Archaeology outfit, and other benefits from Ezreal in the guild.
To prepare for the following qualification, you must satisfy certain conditions before reaching level 91. Make sure that you have accomplished so that your progression is uninterrupted. Here are the requirements to prepare for the Professor Qualification:
- 500 Artifacts repaired
- 15 Mysteries completed
- 20 Collection Logs acquired
- 72 Hours of Research
Ikovian Memorial in Stormguard (Level 70 to 72)
Starting at level 70, you will unlock the Stormguard Citadel, which you will spend a lot of time in from now on. Farm experience in the Ikovian Memorial until you reach 72, which is somewhere around the portal in the area. Make sure you have an Ikovian gerege on your toolbelt so that you can enter Sotrmguard. Another thing you need to find in this zone is a pair of Boots of Flight, which you will need to explore deeper into this area. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged Ikovian Gerege
- Damaged Toy Glider
- Damaged Toy War Golem
Oikos Studio Debris in Everlight (Levels 72 to 74)
Go back to Everlight and farm exp in the Oikos Studio Debris section of the area until 74. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Decorative Vase
- Damaged Kantharos Cup
- Damaged Patera Bowl
Kharid-et Chapel Debris in Kharid-et (Levels 74 to 76)
At level 74, return to Kharid-et to excavate in the Kharid-et Chapel Debris spot. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Ceremonial Mace
- Damaged 'Consensus ad Idem' Painting
- Damaged Pontifex Maximus Figurine
Preparations for 76 and Beyond
Upon reaching level 76, you will unlock the Warforge zone. Before farming in this area, you must head to the Stormguard Citadel to collect a wingsuit in the Keshik Ger Remains. You need this item in your toolbelt to travel further into this area. The wingsuit can be found on the northeast corner of the Keshik Ger Remains. You only do this so your grinding session is uninterrupted since you will return to Stormguard later.
Gladiatorial Goblin Remains in Warforge (Level 76 to 81)
This will be the first instance that you will enter the Warforge. Go to the Gladiatorial Goblin Remains until you reach level 81. However, it would help if you only left this area once you acquire four Imcando metal pieces and a key, which you will need later. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Ekeleshuun Blinder Mask
- Damaged Narogoshuun 'Hob-da-Gob' ball
- Damaged Rekeshuun War Tether
Pontifex Remain in Kharid-et (Level 81 to 83)
There are two ways of getting to level 83 quickly. The most efficient one would be to farm experience in the Crucible Stands Debris in Warforge, Tailory Debris in the Stormguard, and then the Pontifex Remains in Kharid-et. These are all level 81 places, so you gain decent EXP for excavating here instead of gaining other valuable materials such as batteries and artifacts.
The second way is to use Soil Tea, which will provide you with a +2 boost to your Archaeology level. This is the fastest method of getting to 83. Afterward, you can unlock the entrance to the rest of Warforge.
Goblin Dorm Remain in Warforge (Levels 83 to 84)
It would help if you spent the bulk of your time farming in Goblin Dorm Remains until you reach level 84. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Thorobshuun Battle Standard
- Damaged Yurkolgokh Stink Grenade
Oikos Fishing Hut Remnants in Everlight (Levels 84 to 85)
While it might seem tedious, traveling back to Everlight to excavate in the Oikos Fishing Hut Remnants is the fastest way to reach level 85. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Dominarian Device
- Damaged Fishing Trident
Weapons Research in Stormguard (Levels 85 to 86)
At level 85, the most efficient spot to get exp is the Weapons Research zone in Stormguard Citadel. Aside from reaching 86, it would help if you also aimed to find five journal pages for A Study in Aether Mystery, which you turn in with Gee'ka after you collect them. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged Hawkeye Lens Multi-vision Scope
- Damaged Talon-3 Razor Wing
Orcus Altar in Kharid-et (Level 86 to 89)
If you still have your extra signet ring earlier, enter the Orcus Altar in Kharid-et to grind from 86 to 89. It would help if you also looked for a different spell scroll, which you will need to finish The Vault of Shadows mystery. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged 'Exsanguinate' Spell Scroll
- Damaged Necromantic Focus
Big High War God Shrine in Warforge (Level 89 to 91)
For 89 to 91, you should farm in the Big High War God Shrine in Warforge. However, you should stop by the Infernal Source and excavate Dis Overspill piles to finish your collections. When you are in Warforge, you should mine the stacks to find journal pages for the Forge War! Mystery, which you will turn in with Zanik upon completion. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged High Priest Crozier
- Damaged High Priest Mitre
- Damaged High Priest Orb
Get Professor Qualification
Upon reaching level 90, you now have the chance to become a professor. You only need to do something else if you have satisfied the prerequisites. If you still need to finish every requirement, you must go out of your way to complete them.
To prepare for the next step in your qualification, you must satisfy certain conditions before reaching level 99. This part will require significantly more goals, so you should complete them. Here are the requirements to prepare for the Professor Qualification:
- 1000 Artifacts repaired
- 20 Mysteries completed
- 225 Collection Logs acquired
- 168 Hours of Research
Gravitron Research in Stormguard (Levels 91 to 92)
You will proceed to Gravitron Research and grind to level 92. Another objective here is to find the pages for The Spy Who Loved Metal mystery, so you don't have to do a catch-up grind at 95. Here are Artefacts you can see in this area:
- Damaged Prototype Gravimeter
- Damaged Songbird Recorder
Acropolis Debris in Everlight (Levels 92 to 93)
Aside from grinding from 92 to 93, you should also aim to acquire five journal pages for The Epic of Hebe mystery, which you turn over to Vanescula. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Amphora
- Damaged Rod of Asclepius
Armarium Debris in Kharid-et (Level 93 to 94)
The next spot you should excavate is the Armarium Debris back in Kharid-et. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Zarosian Ewer
- Damaged Zarosian Stein
Yu'Buisk Animal Pen in Warforge (Level 94 to 95)
After reaching 94, head back to Warforge and enter the Yu'Buisk Animal Pen to excavate the piles. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Beastkeeper Helm
- Damaged Idithuun Horn Ring
- Damaged 'Nosorog!' Sculpture
Keshik Tower Debris in Stormguard (Levels 95 to 97)
Before you attempt to go to the Keshik Tower Debris, ensure you have upgraded your wingsuit so you won't be electrocuted while traveling. You will be staying here until you reach level 97. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Dayguard Shield
- Damaged Stormguard Gerege
Goblin Trainee Remains in Warforge (Level 97 to 98)
You are a step closer to level 99. The second to the last stop is the Goblin Trainee Remains in Warforge. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Garagorshuun Anchor
- Damaged Ourg Megahitter
- Damaged Ourg Tower/Goblin Cower Shield
Byzroth Remains in Infernal Source (Levels 98 to 99)
The last step to reaching level 99 in Archaeology is excavating the Byzroth Remains in Infernal Source. Players should note that they should also visit Stormguard Citadel after this to hunt for blueprint pages. Here are Artefacts you can find in this area:
- Damaged Hellfire Haladie
- Damaged Hellfire Katar
- Damaged Hellfire Zaghnal
Get Guildmaster Qualification
If you have completed the previous conditions for this qualification, then you can unlock the Guildmaster position quickly. Gaining this title gives you access to the elite Archaeology outfit (which has infinite TPs) and the final component for the Mattoc of Time and Space.
This is everything you will need to reach rank 99. It won't be as quick as expected, so be ready to commit time and effort. When you attain this milestone, you should prepare to reach 120. Rest before the next grind because it will be extremely tedious.
