First of all, archaeology is not only to dig tombs, but also to find tombs. This is the most fundamental difference from grave robbery, but it is too vague, because at present, the public generally believes that archaeology is to dig graves.
Then let's talk about digging graves. As far as finding tombs alone is concerned (fortunately, few people think that grave robbers have a higher level of "excavation" than archaeologists), the most basic means is drilling (I don't know how many grave robbers found tombs by looking at Feng Shui, and all the tombs they "saw" have grave marks, which everyone can see). The technical content of drilling is not very high, although it is often mysterious. Simply put, ordinary farmers can learn to drill graves in a short time as long as they have the strength and are not color blind. Then the remaining question is whether we can explore this place. If you explore this place, you will naturally find the ancient tomb (the probability of omission is very low). If this place is not explored, the grave will not be found.
? Let's talk about the first situation: there are many cemeteries that have been known for a long time, such as important sites, cemeteries attached to city sites, and many cemeteries marked with tombs in the later period. These cemeteries are not only recorded by the cultural relics department, but also protected by law. People nearby also learned about it because of production and construction or accidental discovery by ancestors, which is equivalent to public information, so grave robbers can't hide naturally (many grave robbers are nearby people). Archaeologists will not take the initiative to explore this cemetery to maintain the status quo, and grave robbers are also driven by interests to maintain the status quo. In other words, it's not that archaeologists don't know, but that archaeologists don't take the initiative to dig (the reason will be discussed later).
There is another situation: some cemeteries have few historical records and have never been stolen or slightly stolen. To put it simply, modern people don't know much about it (in fact, many clues are exposed by accidental discoveries such as farming, but their importance has not yet been fully demonstrated). In reality, most of these cemeteries were discovered by capital construction and grave robbery. Let's put aside the infrastructure and talk about why grave robbers can find such a cemetery. According to my observation, the reason is simple. They have explored this place.
Some time ago, there was an article in Sanlian Weekly that there were 200,000 grave robbers in China. I didn't look carefully. I wonder if it's just a professional grave robber. From where I work, semi-professional and amateur grave robbers add up to far more than this. Semi-professional grave robbers may be criminals in rural areas, who do all kinds of bad things, not necessarily specialize in grave robbery, and make a fortune when they have the opportunity; The number of potential amateurs can basically be equal to the number of farmers in all areas where tombs are distributed. An honest farmer can't guarantee that he won't dig graves on his own land or near his village in the future. In Gansu, where I worked, many people wandered up the mountain with their tools on their backs when they were idle. This way, nothing will be missed. I often look at the exploration holes everywhere inexplicably in some places, and I don't understand why they want to drill such places. This small-scale but continuous grave-robbing activity, once the government supervision goes wrong (such as direct participation), can ignite a prairie fire in important cemeteries.
Let's talk about why archaeologists can't explore these places. As we all know, our current archaeological work is mainly carried out in cooperation with various capital construction, and we rarely take the initiative to dig. Whether it is initiative or cooperation, we must go through legal procedures. Archaeologists can't explore the whole mountain with Luoyang shovel, which is illegal. This seems to be shirking responsibility and is suspected of inaction. Then let's see if archaeologists have the resources and strength even if they have the enthusiasm to compete with grave robbers in the Great Leap Forward. At present, there are dozens of professionals in archaeological research institutes in each province. Generally, these dozens of people are not at home for more than half a year, and they are all working in the fields. Among people from all walks of life, archaeology is definitely not the most difficult, but one of the more difficult ones can always be counted. I don't know what percentage of the population in China is often away from home. Except for migrant workers, they are probably all special industries and have special occupations.
Archaeologists are already on the run, not to mention that drilling wells still costs money, labor costs, labor costs (not accompanied by grave robbers), millions per square kilometer (4-5 holes per square meter). Does the country have the money to explore the mountains and rivers of the motherland? Will the public as taxpayers be willing to invest this money?
"Grave robbers always find the treasure before archaeologists", which seems to be a competition between them to find tombs. In fact, this competition has never been held (I believe most grave robbers are not as good as archaeological drills, so it is a good TV theme). Archaeologists have been busy rescuing excavations, including often wiping the bottoms of grave robbers.
This game can't be played either. Cultural relics are non-renewable. After the coal is dug out, there is still oil. There may be another way to run out of gas. The remains left by ancient humans will be gone if they are dug late. Many places where modern archaeology developed earlier, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece, many relics were excavated in the19th century, and now there is nothing to dig. The level at that time caused many regrets now. You can read their books in the 1980s. Compared with the present books, the basic facts will not change much. But China is different. Archaeology in China, like the present economy in China, is changing most rapidly in the world. However, a large number of discoveries are made at the expense of large-scale destruction. At this rate, be careful that in a few years, like other civilizations, we have no place to explore.