artifactual

any object made by human beings, especially with a view to subsequent use.

a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as a shard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation.

any mass-produced, usually inexpensive object reflecting contemporary society or popular culture: artifacts of the pop rock generation.

a substance or structure not naturally present in the matter being observed but formed by artificial means, as during preparation of a microscope slide.

a spurious observation or result arising from preparatory or investigative procedures.