Archeology

Archaeology is the study of the ancient and recent human past through material remains. Archaeologists might study the million-year-old fossils. Or they might study 20th-century buildings in present-day. Archaeology analyzes the physical remains of the past in pursuit of a broad and comprehensive understanding of human culture.

Types of Archaeology

Archaeology is a diverse field of study. Most archaeologists focus on a particular region of the world or a specific topic of study. Specialization allows an archaeologist to develop expertise on a particular issue. Some archaeologists study human remains (bioarchaeology), animals (zooarchaeology), ancient plants (paleoethnobotany), stone tools (lithics), etc. Some archaeologists specialize in technologies that find, map, or analyze archaeological sites. Underwater archaeologists study the remains of human activity that lie beneath the surface of water or on coasts.