At Lake Nojiri in Shinano, Nagano Prefecture in Japan there was found over 50 years ago, the fossils of Naumann elephants. They have employed what is now called the “Lake Nojiri Method” to excavate the 83,000 fossils and other items they have found since: anyone can participate.

Families with five-year-old children, troops of secondary school students, the elderly aged up to 78 have all contributed to the findings.

Perhaps someone with more expertise in archaeological digging could explain to me how “precious fossils” of 40,000 to 60,000 year old creatures can be allowed to be dug up by the inexpert hands of a 5 year old? I thought there was more delicacy and precision involved in digging up relics – you know, in case they get damaged.

Someone care to clear this up?

[Read about the dig at SBS World News]