I study rat nests − here’s why rodents make great archivists

By: Alexandria Mitchem Hansen, Columbia University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 19, 2025

Words: 842

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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By Alexandria Mitchem Hansen, Columbia University

Rats and other rodents and pests can make great archivists.

That’s because they forage food and build dens, storing fabric, paper, animal bones, plant remains and other materials under floorboards, behind walls and in attics, crawl spaces and wells. There, these materials might dry out and remain undisturbed for hundreds of years.

By analyzing the materials in these nests, archaeologists like me can learn more about …

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