Yep, it is not explained! ;-) Fair point! (the items are "trembling" in the sand-storm, pointing to that "blurred danger" but that's all! :-P) A line in the tutorial warning about "items on the ground could disappear" could be nice! You had no luck that your first loss was an artifact, but generally players found about that with a "random object" that they didn't need. :-D The game has an "explorating feeling" to it, and you must understand some things by yourself (beware of lightning storms too BTW! hahaha).
I tried/test_run a "quick storage module play", and it takes me about 15/20m to unlock it. Most of the time the 1st artefact is near your landing spot (to quickly convey their existence to you!), and after creating a smelter, you can have the "reasearch lab" (artifact scanner) rapidly. The only thing that can be tricky here, is finding the second needed artifact around your base at some distance! (@_@) But it is an "early game" unlocking here nonetheless. (two artifacts needed only)
It forces you to manage your inventory so; and be limited by it in very early game. (first times i played, i had a whole inventory on the ground thinking "Ho, i don't need storage at all! why bother with it?!" hahaha. And then i saw the sandstorm eating random objetcs on the ground! :-O And so i learned! The experience here is understanding that fact, and thinking about/toward a "safe storage" early in the game next time (that focalises you toward the next useful goal, to search artifacts and venture around... that is a good mecanic/flow for the game IMO!) =^^=
You must also decide/balance the choices of having (when collecting artefacts) sotrages, or other priorities (like better foods, better tools, paving, etc...) which adds depth to the early strategy of the game too. (you can play differently a few times to optimise all that! And find your playstyle!)