[scoj]

It is really amazing, but I'm left to wonder about something.

Now that we've dug it all up, and are exposing it to air, the items won't last nearly as long. It seems like some items should be left in an inert environment. Do they do things like that?

[kbenson]

The museum is likely a controlled environment. The artifacts may not last quite as long as if buried in mud, but what use is them lasting longer if they are useless?

[dalke]

Yes. Also, some places prohibit or severely curtail excavation, in part because future generations might be able to do it better.