submit urlsubmit rss feedadd directoryBookmarks

article

Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes.

The goals of archaeology are to document and explain the origins and development of human culture, understand culture history, chronicle cultural evolution, and study human behavior and ecology, for both prehistoric and historic societies. It is considered to be one of the four sub-fields of anthropology.

Usage


As with words such as encyclopedia and gynaecology, archaeology traditionally has an ae combination; however, unlike many other words, the ae is still widely retained. Contrary to popular belief in other parts of the world, the spelling archeology is not predominant in United States dictionaries, though it is the spelling used by the United States government organizations involved in the field. The traditional spelling, archaeology, continues to be the most common form in everyday writing throughout the world, including the U.S.

Origins and definition


In the Old World, archaeology has tended to focus on the study of physical remains, the methods used in recovering them and the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings in achieving the subject's goals. The discipline's roots in antiquarianism and the study of Latin and Ancient Greek provided it with a natural affinity with the field of history. In the New World, archaeology is more commonly devoted to the study of human societies and is treated as one of the four subfields of Anthropology. The other subfields of anthropology supplement the findings of archaeology in a holistic manner. These subfields are cultural anthropology, which studies behavioural, symbolic, and material dimensions of culture; linguistics, which studies language, including the origins of language and language groups; and physical anthropology, which includes the study of human evolution and physical and genetic characteristics. Other disciplines also supplement archaeology, such as paleontology, paleozoology, paleoethnobotany, paleobotany, geography, geology, art history, and classics.

More on [ Archaeology ]


directory of related categories

 

 
directory of related topics

Prehistoric Times :: The Earth

 
Archaeology RSS feed
Archaeology - Twitter Search

Stone Pages Archaeo News: Coso Petroglyphs: a lesser known Californian marvel http://bit.ly/8azVPO #archaeology
LisalaLibrarian (Lisa Craig-Young) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:05:00 -0000
Stone Pages Archaeo News: Coso Petroglyphs: a lesser known Californian marvel http://bit.ly/8azVPO #archaeology
Stone Pages Archaeo News: Astronomers celebrate [5 millennia of astronomy] at Stonehenge http://bit.ly/7Gg1RT #archaeology
LisalaLibrarian (Lisa Craig-Young) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:04:34 -0000
Stone Pages Archaeo News: Astronomers celebrate [5 millennia of astronomy] at Stonehenge http://bit.ly/7Gg1RT #archaeology
anthropology. archaeology. what to do... what to do...
Ariana_Simone (Ariana DiLorenzo) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:01:25 -0000
anthropology. archaeology. what to do... what to do...
Sunday personal archaeology: finding out how I got to this point. Proving instructive and oddly emotional.
completelydark (Michael Maupin) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:55:21 -0000
Sunday personal archaeology: finding out how I got to this point. Proving instructive and oddly emotional.
Petroglyphs in Arizona: Petroglyphs in Arizona, Archaeology field work in Tonto Forest – “I have a .. http://bit.ly/7Z3885
VagabondJourney (Wade Shepard) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:54:12 -0000
Petroglyphs in Arizona: Petroglyphs in Arizona, Archaeology field work in Tonto Forest – “I have a .. http://bit.ly/7Z3885
Haha, I like where twitpic cut that off. Is "Archaeology for Christ" Biblical Archaeology's militant evangelical branch?
ChairmanWow (Hellen G) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:51:24 -0000
Haha, I like where twitpic cut that off. Is "Archaeology for Christ" Biblical Archaeology's militant evangelical branch?

 
Subscribe to Archaeology RSS feed

directory of related sites

About Archaeology - Explains what archaeologists do and definitely don't do. From the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Archaeological Adventure - ThinkQuest project explains what archaeology is and its methods and techniques. Examples of significant discoveries including Troy, Shiqmim, the Egyptian Pyramids. Glossary.

Archaeological Sites - Click on region of the world for list of major archaeological sites with descriptions of each.
Meta Description: [ This exhibit contains information about various archaeological sites around the world. ]

Archaeology at the Dawn of History: The Khirbet Iskander Collection - Introduces students to the world of archaeology through a virtual visit to Jordan's Khirbet Iskander dig site.

Archaeology For Kids On-line - Like mud pies? Ever eaten dirt? Think learning about the past is cool? Maybe you have the makings of an archaeologist.

Dig - An online version of the children's magazine on archaeology from the publishers of Archaeology Magazine. Quizzes, fun facts, and contests.
Meta Description: [ A children's magazine on archaeology from the Cobblestone Publishing, produced in cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of America. Quizzes, fun facts, contest and more! ]

Five Points - Tells how archaeologists and historians rediscovered a famous nineteenth-century New York neighborhood. Also answers questions such as What do artifacts tell us about everyday life?
Meta Description: [ Archaeologists and historians rediscover a famous nineteenth-century New York neighborhood. ]

404 Is the Past in Your Future? - Explores careers in archaeology. Examines the training that is needed, the types of work available, and the rewards of preserving the past.

Kids Dig Reed - Includes a virtual tour of the dig, gallery of artifacts, games and puzzles, and a talking cow.

Mummy Bear - Trace Mummy Bear's history to learn about the process of mummification.

North Ferriby Bronze Age Boats - Information on the three bronze age boats found by the River Humber at North Ferriby
Meta Description: [ bronze age boats found in the mud of the River Humber at North Ferriby, information for both young and old, Fireworks Splice HTML ]

NOVA Online: Lost City of Arabia - Join a team of archaeologists as they search for Ubar, the lost city of Arabia, and see how they apply the technology of remote sensing to see the site without actually excavating it.
Meta Description: [ NOVA presents the use of remote sensing and GPS in archeology in a search for Ubar, the lost city of Arabia ]

ThinkQuest: Raiders of the Lost Art - High school students present the study of archaeology and the study of four civilizations - ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, ancient China, and the American West of the eighteenth century.

Voyage into Archaeology - Provides a look at what archaeology is, interactive adventures, a glossary of terms, and expert answers to common questions.
Meta Description: [ Voyage into Archaeology is an interactive web site designed for kids (and adults) to learn more about how archaeologists come to their interpretations and go about their investigations. ]

You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian Mummy - Web book with interactive graphics outlines the steps involved in making an Egyptian Mummy.

Archaeology related videos
Hidden Archaeology and the secret past of mankind.
Next Video
Archaeology related videos

 

HOMEADVERTISINGABOUT US

articlesartsbusinesscomputersgameshealthhospitalshomekids & teensnewsmobilephysiciansrecreationreferenceregionalscienceshoppingsocietysportsworld


Submit a Site About Become an Editor