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. See protohistory, prehistory
   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

• archaeological, adjective
• ˌarchaeoˈlogically, adverb
• 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

In conversation, they soon discovered a mutual love of archaeology.

From Washington Post

Neanderthals were discovered in Europe, the continent with the longest and most well-funded tradition in archaeology.

From Nautilus

Data archaeology is particularly good for historians studying cities because urban places often hold the stories of immigrants who might be otherwise difficult to trace.

From MIT Technology Review

In recent months, a series of discoveries have captivated the world of archaeology.

From Washington Post

Mason jars were tucked into dusty bookshelves packed with cookbooks, novels, and archaeology texts.

From Outside Online

The first time I ever heard about archaeology was in the fifth grade when we learned about Richard Leakey.

From The Daily Beast

I found the section of the book on forensic archaeology fascinating.

From The Daily Beast

Ruth Shady isn't my anything; she is her own, completely original force in archaeology.

From The Daily Beast

If you can stomach lunch—forensic archaeology can be disgusting.

From The Daily Beast

Archaeology is about paying attention to things that have been or could be indetectable or invisible to others.

From The Daily Beast

This lack of enjoyment in Nature, lack of interest in topography and archaeology, was probably personal to him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Canon, whose archaeology did not go back beyond St. Patrick, offered no correction.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever may be the reason, such theories are not borne out by the discoveries of archaeology.

From Project Gutenberg

We need also to consider the vast and great civilizations which existed in remote antiquity as is now revealed by archaeology.

From Project Gutenberg

David Hulse, junior author, is a native of Decatur, and his interest in archaeology is as longstanding as Cambron's.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• excavation
• paleontology