Archaeology Skill for 1.6 for Stardew Valley
A new Archaeology skill that levels up by digging, cracking geodes, donating to the museum and panning, with its own machines, recipes and professions.
Download Archaeology Skill for 1.6
More screenshots on Nexus Mods ↗
What this mod does
Archaeology Skill, by moonslime, adds a new Archaeology skill. It levels up as you dig artifact spots and clay spots, dig in the mines, crack open geodes, donate to the museum and pan with the Copper Pan.
What it adds
- Level rewards: a preservation chamber to display artifacts and sell them for more, a grinder that turns scrap into ore, a dirt sifter and a water sifter.
- A restoration table, new fences and paths, a skill book, meals with buffs and the level 9 Ancient Jello recipe.
- Professions at levels 5 and 10, such as Pioneer (more artifact spots) or Curator (better prices for displayed artifacts).
Requirements and compatibility
It needs SMAPI and SpaceCore; Content Patcher is technically optional, but it’s needed for the content. Version 2.18.2 (November 26, 2025, 509 KB) no longer requires Birb Core. It doesn’t work on Android.
It integrates with Visit Mount Vapius, Sunberry Village and Stardew Valley Expanded. UI Info Suite 2 doesn’t show its experience: the author suggests Experience Bars. When updating, delete the previous version first. There’s a Spanish translation by Esteffan on Nexus.
User rating
Highlights and things to keep in mind
- Gives artifacts and geodes a new purpose
- Lots of machines and level rewards
- Integration with Visit Mount Vapius, Sunberry and SVE
- Spanish translation available
- Doesn't work on Android
- When updating you have to delete the previous version
- The water sifter requires another mod
- Spanish comes as a separate translation
Requirements
- Stardew Valley 1.6.x (PC; doesn't work on Android)
- SMAPI 4.x
- SpaceCore
- Content Patcher
- Optional: Machine Terrain Framework for the water sifter
How to install it
- First install SMAPI, SpaceCore and Content Patcher (see their mod pages) and launch the game once with SMAPI.
- Open the Archaeology Skill for 1.6 page on Nexus Mods, go to the Files tab and click Manual download on the main file (ArchaeologySkill-1.6-v2.18.2). You need a free Nexus account to download.
- If you had an older version, delete its folder (you can keep config.json). Then unzip the .zip outside the game folder and move the resulting folder into the Mods folder inside the game folder.
- Optional: install Machine Terrain Framework if you want to use the water sifter, and Esteffan's Spanish translation if you want to play in Spanish.
- Launch the game with SMAPI and check that there are no red errors in the console.
Version history
-
2.18.226 Nov 2025Current
Removes test text and debug warnings
-
2.18.122 Nov 2025
Fixes an infinite experience bug with donations
-
2.18.018 Nov 2025
No longer requires Birb Core
Common problems
Does it work on Android?
No. The description says it isn't Android-compatible.
Why can't I see its experience in UI Info Suite 2?
That mod doesn't show custom skills. The author suggests Experience Bars or similar mods.
Is it available in Spanish?
There's a Spanish translation by Esteffan published separately on Nexus.
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