In one of the interviews for Wowhead, a Patrick Dawson confirmed there won’t be any archaeology in the Shadowlands.
`https://www.wowhead.com/news=316812/judgehype-interview-with-patrick-dawson-shadowlands-content-lore-prepatch
Why?
This is a place that we can certainly physically interact with, where many of these beings claim to have been around for “eons” and their rulers (Winter Queen, Sire Denathrius, etc) for even longer. The First Ones are regularly being mentioned as somehow preceding even those rulers.
So why won’t there be archaeology?
Archaeology has been one of my favorite activities in WoW, especially for the spicy lore info the Solved Artifact listing states. I even got Realm First in Mists of Pandaria for it!
Please reconsider having zero archaeology in Shadowlands. Please simply add grey items with some lore nuggets that we can make into crates. We don’t even need any cool Bind On Account rare solves (unless you want to) or toys or anything! Maybe periodically have the solve grant you anima toward your covenant or something instead so its less work.
But having zero archaeology just sucks. 
Edit:
Ideas suggested so far have been
- adding quests in Shadowlands where we go uncover something they need from their past in order to “move on” (e.g. in Revendreth, let go of their pride or regret or anger or whatever), assuming ofc it’s a soul from Azeroth, Argus, Draenor (MU or AU)
- adding Transmog to past content, e.g. Archimonde only dropped belt, shoulders, and helm, and we could maybe use Archaeology to discover his gloves, or alternatively items that have been removed in-game could be added to archaeology, e.g. the Blood Knight belf paladin polearm that used to be obtained in a quest
- your archaeology is tied to your covenant, and you’re able to discover artifacts of your covenant or The First Ones in your covenant zone, with a “pristine artifact” museum in your sanctum
- a slight revamp of some sort, where it’s almost like an archivist in-game, with a perma-“museum” somewhere (maybe Ironforge with the Explorer’s League, and Silvermoon with The Reliquary), add pristine versions of the original Archaeology stuff in Cata (since we already have pseudo museums in MOP’s Lorewalkers area, WOD’s Garrison, Legion archaeology building second floor, and in BFA capital area).
31 Likes
The news of “no Archaeology in Shadowlands” feels like another step towards Archaeology going the way of First Aid.
I hope they don’t delete Archaeology from the game.
34 Likes
Same here. I liked it, got a mount from it once. Haven’t done it in a long time but then I’m having trouble finding the desire to log in.
Still, I hope they don’t remove it.
5 Likes
They should have at least given quests from NPCs in Shadowlands like “Back when i was a kid, I explored X and Y, found awesome treasure, I would like to go back and see it again” Boom Quest Accepted, you go to X and Y find his treasure and bring it back to him.
12 Likes
I’ve had some fun with archeology over the years, but it’s one of those features that started during the period when they were constantly adding more and more stuff to the game.
It wouldn’t shock me if they trimmed it, WoW doesn’t really need it. But, unlike first aid, there’s a decent amount of substance to what’s already in the game.
So maybe it’s on the shelf for now, with the reasoning that the Shadowlands are a spirit realm distinct from Azeroth.
2 Likes
bro their official reason is tht archeology is a azeroth only thing…
they forgot about draenor
11 Likes
With the leveling reset, this would have been a perfect opportunity to reload the archaeology profession for all of the previous expansions. New mogs, new mounts, new pets, new BoAs, new reasons to keep digging!
13 Likes
This is such an odd decision. There are so many story tidbits the throw around the Shadowlands that could be discovered via Archeology.
For folks that want the information without the link:
Archaeology is entirely linked to the artifacts of Azeroth. Nothing new for this secondary profession in Shadowlands to be expected.
Considering how frequently derided the profession is, there are a surprising amount of angry comments about this one, so let’s elaborate.
Wording aside, the point would seem to be that Archaeology artifacts are tied to the races which inhabit Azeroth - which at this point that very much includes the Orcs and Draenei of Outland/Draenor, so it makes perfect sense that we’d explore that history through Archaeology on their native worlds. However, Shadowlands exists as a realm apart; the races which inhabit Azeroth (etc) may go there, but it’s not a part of their history… it’s their future.
Certainly the developers could come up with any number of lore minded reason to avoid adding Archaeology into Shadowlands, but the implication seems clear that the intent is for Shadowlands to be about exploring the future and what happens to the souls after characters die, not about their past.
1 Like
honestly i’m okay with them never adding onto arch again as long as they don’t delete what we already have
4 Likes
Who does archeology anymore? Its dead like first aid, more boring then fishing, and just all around bad experience.
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WTF??? tho like we go to places other than azeroth and there is archeology there too LOL all realms and worlds have artifacts hahaha the lower reason is complete bs too cuz we can’t play as arrokoa or succubus ect yet we stil lget artifacts of the legion…orges…arrokoa… nurubians… they arent playable either…
pretty sure a number of groups in azeroth care about the lore history in ardenweald… the wild gods ect that are reborn there… and a number who care about the origins of vampire races and dreadlords in venthyr and scourge stuff in maldraxxas and holy stuff in bastion… come on now.
8 Likes
This dev team has no respect for the legacy of WoW. They rather support dead on arrival, bloated rental systems than systems that span multiple expansions.
Sad end for archaeology. Respect to the WoW archaeologists out there. 
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i wouldn’t count archaeology as a proud link in the great legacy of wow lol
Archaeology requires them to write story this is a depression, we can’t afford that :^)
1 Like
More boring than fishing?!?!?!?
How dare you good sir HOW DARE YOU
Do you think it was EASY getting Mists of Pandaria Realm First Zen Archaeology!?!? Do you think I did it for the sake of doing it rather than it bringing joy to my life?!?!?!
It’s been ten years and I’m STILL waiting for that Zin’rokh solve.
Where is this from Autai? Who said that
4 Likes
First Aid and Archaeology are cornerstones of the WoW experience IMVHO. 
2 Likes
Honey, this is from your link. So Production Director Patrick Dawson.
That’s true, but lore and fun items can be obtained in a lot of ways.
WoW has a lot of mini-games. Archeology is basically that, but not one of the more successful ones, so I could see why retiring it might make sense.