archaeology

or ar·che·ol·o·gy

[ ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, especially those that have been excavated.
2. Rare. ancient history; the study of antiquity.

archaeology

/ ˌɑːkɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌɑːkɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of man's past by scientific analysis of the material remains of his cultures See also prehistory protohistory

archaeology

/ är′kē-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of past human life and culture by the examination of physical remains, such as graves, tools, and pottery.

archaeology

1. The recovery and study of material objects, such as graves, buildings, tools, artworks, and human remains, to investigate the structure and behavior of past cultures . Archaeologists rely on physical remains as clues to the emergence and development of human societies and civilizations. Anthropologists, by contrast, to interact with living people to study their cultures.

Derived Forms

• ˌarchaeoˈlogically, adverb
• archaeological, adjective
• ˌarchaeˈologist, noun

Other Words From

• archae·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of archaeology¹

First recorded in 1600–10, archaeology is from the Greek word archaiología the discussion of antiquities. See archaeo-, -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of archaeology¹

C17: from Late Latin archaeologia, from Greek arkhaiologia study of what is ancient, from arkhaios ancient (from arkhē beginning)

Example Sentences

"Indigenous people were already caring for and managing forests and other kinds of tree foods," said Jacob Holland-Lulewicz at Pennsylvania State University, who studies archaeology and ethnohistory.

From Salon

"Baalbek is the major Roman site in Lebanon. You couldn't replace it if someone bombed it," says Graham Philip, an archaeology professor at Durham University.

From BBC

Trump accused Democratic Presidents Obama and Clinton of setting aside far too much land to protect the archaeology and other resources that were the object of the monument designations.

From Los Angeles Times

She works alongside people who studied history, geography and archaeology and says her own humanities background helps with her work today, processing information.

From BBC

They also contributed to the development of field sciences, fostered networks of knowledge, and connected the histories of politics, fieldwork, and academic disciplines like archaeology.

From BBC

Related Words

• excavation
• paleontology