Archaeology

{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2024}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Dolina-Pano-3.jpg|thumb|Excavations at [[Archaeological site of Atapuerca|Atapuerca]], an archaeological site in Spain]]

[[File:Dolina-Pano-3.jpg|thumb|Excavations at [[Archaeological site of Atapuerca|Atapuerca]], an archaeological site in Spain]]

'''Archaeology''' is the study of human activity through the recovery and [[analysis]] of [[material culture]]. The [[archaeological record]] consists of [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]], [[architecture]], [[biofact (archaeology)|biofacts]] or ecofacts, [[archaeological site|sites]], and [[cultural landscape]]s. Archaeology can be considered both a [[social science]] and a branch of the [[humanities]].<ref name=Renfrew_Bahn1991 /><ref>{{cite journal |author=Sinclair, A. |year=2016 |title=The Intellectual Base of Archaeological Research 2004–2013: A visualisation and analysis of its disciplinary links, networks of authors, and conceptual language |journal=Internet Archaeology |issue=42 |doi=10.11141/ia.42.8 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Sinclair |first=A. |year=2022 |title=Archaeological Research 2014 to 2021: an examination of its intellectual base, collaborative networks and conceptual language using science maps |journal=Internet Archaeology |issue=59 |doi=10.11141/ia.59.10 |doi-access=free}}</ref> It is usually considered an independent [[academic discipline]], but may also be classified as part of [[anthropology]] (in North America – the [[four-field approach]]), [[history]] or [[geography]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kristiansen |first=Kristian |title=The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-19-174344-3 |chapter=The Discipline of Archaeology |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/27983/chapter-abstract/211656821}}</ref> The discipline involves [[Survey (archaeology)|surveying]], [[Archaeological excavation|excavation]], and eventually [[Post excavation|analysis]] of data collected, to learn more about the past. In broad scope, archaeology relies on cross-disciplinary research.

'''Archaeology''' or '''archeology'''{{efn|name=spelling}} is the study of human activity through the recovery and [[analysis]] of [[material culture]]. The [[archaeological record]] consists of [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]], [[architecture]], [[biofact (archaeology)|biofacts]] or ecofacts, [[archaeological site|sites]], and [[cultural landscape]]s. Archaeology can be considered both a [[social science]] and a branch of the [[humanities]].<ref name=Renfrew_Bahn1991 /><ref>{{cite journal |author=Sinclair, A. |year=2016 |title=The Intellectual Base of Archaeological Research 2004–2013: A visualisation and analysis of its disciplinary links, networks of authors, and conceptual language |journal=Internet Archaeology |issue=42 |doi=10.11141/ia.42.8 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Sinclair |first=A. |year=2022 |title=Archaeological Research 2014 to 2021: an examination of its intellectual base, collaborative networks and conceptual language using science maps |journal=Internet Archaeology |issue=59 |doi=10.11141/ia.59.10 |doi-access=free}}</ref> It is usually considered an independent [[academic discipline]], but may also be classified as part of [[anthropology]] (in North America – the [[four-field approach]]), [[history]] or [[geography]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kristiansen |first=Kristian |title=The Oxford Handbook of Archaeology |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-19-174344-3 |chapter=The Discipline of Archaeology |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/27983/chapter-abstract/211656821}}</ref> The discipline involves [[Survey (archaeology)|surveying]], [[Archaeological excavation|excavation]], and eventually [[Post excavation|analysis]] of data collected, to learn more about the past. In broad scope, archaeology relies on cross-disciplinary research.

Archaeologists study human [[prehistory]] and [[history]], from the development of the first [[stone tool]]s at [[Lomekwi]] in East Africa 3.3&nbsp;million years ago up until recent decades.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Roche |first1=Hélène |last2=Kent |first2=Dennis V. |last3=Kirwa |first3=Christopher |last4=Lokorodi |first4=Sammy |last5=Wright |first5=James D. |last6=Mortlock |first6=Richard A. |last7=Leakey |first7=Louise |last8=Brugal |first8=Jean-Philip |last9=Daver |first9=Guillaume |display-authors=6 |date=May 2015 |title=3.3&nbsp;million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi&nbsp;3, West Turkana, Kenya |journal=Nature |volume=521 |issue=7552 |pages=310–315 |doi=10.1038/nature14464 |pmid=25993961 |bibcode=2015Natur.521..310H |s2cid=1207285 |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> Archaeology is distinct from [[palaeontology]], which is the study of [[fossil]] remains. Archaeology is particularly important for learning about prehistoric societies, for which, by definition, there are no written records. Prehistory includes over 99% of the human past, from the [[Paleolithic]] until the advent of literacy in societies around the world.<ref name=Renfrew_Bahn1991 /> Archaeology has various goals, which range from understanding [[culture history]] to reconstructing past [[lifeway]]s to documenting and explaining changes in human societies through time.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is archaeology? – Archaeology definition |website=Live Science |date=28 March 2014 |url=https://www.livescience.com/44448-what-is-archaeology.html |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221143606/https://www.livescience.com/44448-what-is-archaeology.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Derived from Greek, the term ''archaeology'' means "the study of ancient history".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-510815-6 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195108156.001.0001/acref-9780195108156 |access-date=22 July 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809084502/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195108156.001.0001/acref-9780195108156 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Archaeologists study human [[prehistory]] and [[history]], from the development of the first [[stone tool]]s at [[Lomekwi]] in East Africa 3.3&nbsp;million years ago up until recent decades.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Roche |first1=Hélène |last2=Kent |first2=Dennis V. |last3=Kirwa |first3=Christopher |last4=Lokorodi |first4=Sammy |last5=Wright |first5=James D. |last6=Mortlock |first6=Richard A. |last7=Leakey |first7=Louise |last8=Brugal |first8=Jean-Philip |last9=Daver |first9=Guillaume |display-authors=6 |date=May 2015 |title=3.3&nbsp;million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi&nbsp;3, West Turkana, Kenya |journal=Nature |volume=521 |issue=7552 |pages=310–315 |doi=10.1038/nature14464 |pmid=25993961 |bibcode=2015Natur.521..310H |s2cid=1207285 |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> Archaeology is distinct from [[palaeontology]], which is the study of [[fossil]] remains. Archaeology is particularly important for learning about prehistoric societies, for which, by definition, there are no written records. Prehistory includes over 99% of the human past, from the [[Paleolithic]] until the advent of literacy in societies around the world.<ref name=Renfrew_Bahn1991 /> Archaeology has various goals, which range from understanding [[culture history]] to reconstructing past [[lifeway]]s to documenting and explaining changes in human societies through time.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is archaeology? – Archaeology definition |website=Live Science |date=28 March 2014 |url=https://www.livescience.com/44448-what-is-archaeology.html |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221143606/https://www.livescience.com/44448-what-is-archaeology.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Derived from Greek, the term ''archaeology'' means "the study of ancient history".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-510815-6 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195108156.001.0001/acref-9780195108156 |access-date=22 July 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809084502/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195108156.001.0001/acref-9780195108156 |url-status=live}}</ref>