Final answer:
The practice of using bent rods to detect buried resources is known as dowsing or divining, a technique without scientific evidence for its effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of using bent rods to locate buried resources, such as water, artifacts, or structures, is known as dowsing or divining. This technique, which is considered to be a type of pseudoscience by many, involves holding the rods loosely in one's hands and walking over an area where the resources are thought to be buried. Supporters of dowsing claim that the rods move due to unseen energies or forces indicating the presence of the desired material; however, there is no scientific evidence that supports its efficacy.