Archaeology/Pre-release

Before Archaeology's release on 30 March 2020 numerous teasers appeared in-game.

On 25 February 2020 archaeologists appeared at various lodestones: Amateur Archaeologists (Ardougne, Taverley, Edgeville, and Yanille), budding archaeologists (Catherby, Karamja, and Varrock), Elven Archaeologist (Prifddinas), researchers (Ardougne, Falador, Lumbridge, and Port Sarim), and wannabe archaeologists (Burthorpe, Draynor Village, and Seers' Village).

Starting from the game update on 18 March 2020 various NPCs at Varrock Dig Site such as the Guildmaster Tony and researchers were seen commenting on the mysterious monolith and making archaeological findings, with dialogue lines appearing approximately every two minutes and changing repeatedly leading up to release. The full list of updates can be found in the table below.

In addition, Associate Reiniger and Guildmaster Tony were graphically updated, Guildmaster Tony's name was changed from Professor Tony, and the mysterious monolith and its surroundings were updated.

Events

Date	Event
18 March	Researchers discussed the renovation of the guild in the tent north of the mysterious monolith.
18 March	Associate Reiniger and Guildmaster Tony discussed the renovation of the guild upstairs in the main building.
18 March	Guildmaster Tony talked about the funding for the guild upstairs in the main building.
19 March	Guildmaster Tony wondered about the mysterious monolith next to it.
19 March	Guildmaster Tony and researchers discussed the mysterious monolith next to it.
20 March	The researchers moved to the level 1 dig site.
20 March	One of the researchers found a centurion's dress sword.
20 March	One of the researchers found some imperial iron.
20 March	One of the researchers found some purpleheart wood.
21 March	The researchers moved to the tent north of the mysterious monolith.
21 March	Guildmaster Tony and researchers discussed the sword in the guild.
21 March	Guildmaster Tony and Museum Accountant appeared in the Varrock Museum.
21 March	Guildmaster Tony and Museum Accountant discussed the funding for the guild.
21 March	Guildmaster Tony moved to the panning area of Varrock Dig Site.
21 March	Guildmaster Tony considered alternatives to funding.
22 March	A mysterious stranger could be seen in multiple locations around the dig site.
22 March	Guildmaster Tony considered ways to save money upstairs of the guild with the mysterious stranger standing behind a wall.
22 March	Guildmaster Tony faced the mysterious stranger.
22 March	Guildmaster Tony accepted funding from the mysterious stranger's anonymous contacts.
23 March	Associate Reiniger and Guildmaster Tony discussed the newfound interest in the guild downstairs of the guild. The researches moved back to the tent.
23 March	Guildmaster Tony, Soran, Emissary of Zaros, and Velucia discussed co-operation outside the guild.
24 March	Researchers discussed the time sprites in the tent north of the mysterious monolith.
24 March	Time sprites started emerging from each of the future dig site locations and headed towards the mysterious monolith.
24 March	Isaura, Lowse, and Sir Atcha talked about collecting artefacts by the monolith.
25 March	The frequency at which the time sprites were spawning increased from about 10 minutes to about 5 minutes.
25 March	NPCs appeared at future sites of Infernal Source (Movario), Everlight (Vanescula and Efaritay), and Warforge! (Zanik)
25 March	The frequency at which the time sprites were spawning increased from about 5 minutes to 30 seconds.
25 March	Zaros appeared near the mysterious monolith and activated it. A cutscene of this played for players at the dig site, featuring also Dr. Nabanik and Guildmaster Tony.
25 March	Guildmaster Tony and Associate Reiniger discussed the monolith.
26 March	Guildmaster Tony moved to the upstairs of the guild to look through his bookcase.
27 March	Guildmaster Tony moved next to the monolith to think about it.
29 March	Guildmaster Tony moved to the upstairs of the guild to talk with Xephos.
30 March	Time sprites were absorbed by the mysterious monolith again. Guildmaster Tony used the black stone, given to him by Xephos, on the mysterious monolith. As a result, he was sucked inside.

Dialogue

This article on an event has an associated dialogue page. Click here for a transcript of possible conversations and other messaging encountered throughout the event.

Gallery

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  Vanescula Drakan and Efaritay near the site of Everlight Dig Site.

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  Zaros raising the mysterious monolith, later revealed to be the Elder Codex.

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  Guildmaster Tony examining the mysterious monolith.

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  Collectors gathered near the guild.

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  Tony sucked into the monolith.

Trivia

• On 29 March 2020, a glitch occurred in which some players would not see Guildmaster Tony speaking with Xephos. This caused it to look like Guildmaster Tony was speaking to himself.