Which expansion added the Archaeology secondary profession?

Cataclysm added Archaeology as a secondary profession to World of Warcraft. Released in 2010, it let players survey excavation sites across Azeroth, recover fragments, and assemble artifacts connected to the world’s ancient civilizations.

Unlike gathering professions such as Mining or Herbalism, Archaeology focused on exploration and lore. Players used the Survey ability to locate dig-site clues, collected fragments associated with cultures such as the tol’vir, night elves, and dwarves, and solved projects for rewards. Some discoveries were cosmetic, while others included mounts, pets, toys, or equipment.

Archaeology was thematically tied to Cataclysm’s rebuilding and re-examination of Azeroth after Deathwing’s destruction. It remained part of the profession system in later expansions, which added new dig sites, artifact groups, and story connections. Mists of Pandaria expanded Archaeology with mogu and pandaren material, but Cataclysm was the expansion that introduced the profession itself.