[ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee] 
| 1. | the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated. |
| 2. | Rare. ancient history; the study of antiquity. |
| ar·chae·ol·o·gy or ar·che·ol·o·gy (är'kē-ŏl'ə-jē) n. The systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery. [French archéologie, from New Latin archaeologia, from Greek arkhaiologiā, antiquarian lore : arkhaio-, archaeo- + -logiā, -logy.] ar'chae·o·log'i·cal (-ə-lŏj'ĭ-kəl), ar'chae·o·log'ic adj., ar'chae·o·log'i·cal·ly adv., ar'chae·ol'o·gist n. |
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.
kiˈɒl