archaeology

/ˈɑrkiˌɑlədʒi/

Other forms: archaeologies

If your idea of excitement is sifting dirt to find bits of pottery, chances are that you're an archaeology enthusiast. Archaeology is all about understanding the past by analyzing material culture — that is, objects shaped by human hands.

The Greek suffix -ology ("the study of") should be familiar. Consider the word biology: bios is Greek for "life," so biology is "the study of life." Arkhaios is "ancient." Thus, archaeology is "the study of ancient things." Early archaeologists tended to seek sensational finds — like Howard Carter, who found King Tut's tomb. Contemporary archaeologists are generally more concerned with reconstructing the lives of everyday people through careful analysis of mundane artifacts — like tools and feeding utensils.

Definitions of archaeology

1. noun

   the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures
   synonyms: archeology

   types:

   Assyriology

   archeology of the ancient Assyrians

   Egyptology

   archeology of ancient Egyptian artifacts

   Sumerology

   the archeology of ancient Sumerians

   marine archaeology, marine archeology, underwater archaeology, underwater archeology

   the archeology of underwater sites

   palaeoclimatology, paleoclimatology

   the study of the climate of past ages

   palaeogeography, paleogeography

   the study of the geography of ancient times or ancient epochs

   paleography

   the study of ancient forms of writing (and the deciphering of them)

   palaeopathology, paleopathology

   the study of disease of former times (as inferred from fossil evidence)

   palaetiology, paletiology

   the explanation of past events in terms of scientific causes (as geological causes)

   palaeology, paleology

   the study of (especially prehistoric) antiquities

   protoanthropology, protohistory

   the study humans prior to the invention of writing

   palaeoethnography, paleoethnography

   the ethnography of paleolithic humans

   epigraphy

   the study of ancient inscriptions

   protoarchaeology, protoarcheology

   the study of prehistoric human artifacts and human fossils

   type of:

   anthropology

   the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings