How to Do Archaeology in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft a brush (feather + copper ingot + stick) and use it on suspicious sand (desert temples, wells, warm ocean ruins) or suspicious gravel (trail ruins, cold ocean ruins) - brushing slowly reveals pottery sherds, armor trims, sniffer eggs and loot instead of breaking the block.

What you need

Brush (feather + copper ingot + stick)
Shovel for clearing normal blocks AROUND the suspicious ones
Water breathing or a door for underwater ruins
Spare brushes - they wear out

Step by step

Craft a brush: 1 feather + 1 copper ingot + 1 stick, in a vertical line.
Learn the sites: suspicious sand generates in desert temples, desert wells and warm ocean ruins; suspicious gravel in trail ruins and cold ocean ruins (plus trial chambers corridors in 1.21+).
Spot the suspicious blocks: they look nearly identical to normal sand/gravel - suspicious sand has a slightly rougher texture. Digging or exploding them destroys the loot forever.
Hold right-click with the brush on a suspicious block. It takes ~5 seconds of continuous brushing; the item slowly rises out of the block.
Warm ocean ruins: brush suspicious sand for sniffer eggs (about 1 in 15 blocks) - hatch them on moss for sniffers, which dig up torchflower seeds and pitcher pods.
Trail ruins: brush suspicious gravel for exclusive pottery sherds and 4 armor trims (Host, Raiser, Shaper, Wayfinder).
Cold ocean ruins: suspicious gravel gives sherds and loot; watch for drowned.
Collect all 20 pottery sherd patterns and assemble decorated pots (4 sherds or bricks in a diamond at the crafting table).

Java vs Bedrock

Identical in Java and Bedrock: same sites, same brush mechanics. Both editions destroy suspicious block loot if you mine the block instead of brushing. Decorated pot patterns display identically.

Versions: Archaeology added in 1.20 (Trails & Tales); suspicious gravel in trial chambers added in 1.21. Current as of 26.3.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a sniffer egg?

Brush suspicious sand in warm ocean ruins - roughly 1 in 15 blocks contains an egg. It hatches in about 20 minutes on moss (double time off moss), growing into a sniffer that digs up ancient seeds.

What happens if you mine suspicious sand?

The block and its loot vanish forever - nothing drops. Always brush suspicious blocks, and never let TNT or pistons touch them.

How many pottery sherds are there?

20 different sherd patterns (1.20-1.21), each themed to its site: arms up, prize, skull, burn and more. Mix any 4 sherds or bricks into a decorated pot.