An Artifact Spot (worms, stems, twigs) is a tile that is guaranteed to provide an item when dug up with a Hoe (other tools will not work).
A variety of location-dependent items can be obtained from artifact spots; they are a key source for Artifacts and Lost Books. Artifact spots are much more common in Winter, but have a high chance to give Snow Yam and Winter Root.
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The possible loot of an artifact spot is controlled by the region of the map it is located. The specific item in any artifact spot is fixed for a given day, even if the game is reloaded. However, a different item is possible the next day (assuming the artifact spot does not disappear overnight). Using a hoe with the archaeologist enchantment doubles the chance of finding an artifact.
The pool of potential items contained within artifact spots is checked against a list, in the order listed below. the chances to find items later in the list vary depending upon the details of which earlier items still remain possible.
- 20-32% chance of a Lost Book. Not possible on The Farm. Note that once all Lost Books are found, any potential Lost Book is replaced by Mixed Seeds.
- Various Artifacts, dependent upon location. Note, however, that some artifacts can never be found in artifact spots.
- In Winter only: 28-50% chance of Winter Root or Snow Yam. Not possible in the Calico Desert.
- During Qi's Crop quest on Ginger Island: 25% chance of 2-5 Qi Beans.
- In Spring only: 3-6% chance of 1-5 Rice Shoots. Not possible in the Desert or The Beach.
- 2-5 Bone Fragments, only after completing Gunther's Special Order "Fragments of the Past" (20% Chance).
- A location-dependent list of other items. Some artifacts can reappear in this second list, but most of the items are resources. The percentages provided are valid for Summer and Fall (values are generally 50% smaller in Winter and 6% smaller in Spring).
- 1-3 Copper Ore: Pelican Town (14%), Railroad (11%), Bus Stop (9%), The Backwoods (7%), Cindersap Forest (5%), The Mountain (5%).
- 1-3 Coal: The Backwoods (5%), the Mountain (4%), The Farm (4%)
- 1-3 Gold Ore: The Beach (4%)
- 1-3 Stone: possible anywhere (8-20% depending on location)
- 1-3 Clay: possible anywhere (24-60% depending on location)
- An unseen Secret Note up to 5% chance, only if the player has a Magnifying Glass.
- Starting Summer 1 of year 1: 1 Warp Totem: Farm, Warp Totem: Mountains, or Warp Totem: Beach can replace Clay (10% chance)