Arts & Culture
Material Culture and the Archaeology of Consumption in Modern Households
Quick fact
In the landmark Garbage Project, archaeologists digging through modern landfills discovered that what people claim to throw away differs drastically from what they actually discard—for example, they found that households waste an average of 15% of purchased food, yet surveys suggest they waste almost none.
Why this is interesting
Think about your latest online purchase: why did you choose that exact color, style, or brand? What if an archaeologist from the future excavated your trash can—what would it reveal about your identity, your values, and your social status?