archaeology

American  

[ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee] / ˌɑr kiˈɒl ə dʒi /

Or archeology

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.

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archaeology British  

/ ˌɑːkɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌɑːkɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

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

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archaeology Scientific  

/ 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.

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archaeology Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• archaeological adjective
• archaeologically adverb
• archaeologist noun

Etymology

Origin of archaeology

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

Example Sentences

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has awarded £2,779 to master craftsman Thomas Keyes to conduct an experimental archaeology project later this year.

From BBC

A team of astronomers led by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian has achieved a first by using galactic archaeology to uncover the past of a galaxy beyond the Milky Way.

From Science Daily

"I clearly remember when the computer finally processed the data and we saw the match come together. It was an exciting moment," she told AFP at Istanbul's archaeology museum.

From Barron's

It said the Russian national was the head of the archaeology department at the Hermitage - but did not name him publicly.

From BBC

If a viewer tunes in to a show about Egyptian archaeology and the artifacts of antiquity, he or she is likely already deeply interested, so the cheerleading is unnecessary.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• excavation
• paleontology