archaeo-, archeo-, archae-, arche-, archa-, archi-, -arch

One piece of material collected and recorded as significant evidence by an archaeologist (the plural is used as a singular): Archaeological data falls into four classes: artifacts, ecofacts, features, and structures.

The use of geological techniques and methods in archaeological work: Archeological geology is different from geoarchaeology in that it is a subfield of archaeology focusing on the physical context of deposits.

A sedimentary and architectural unit defined by a combination of lithological, pedological, and material cultural criteria: Archaeological layers are created over time as people develop new towns and cities, and then rebuilt them at the same place, as it is the case in Istanbul.

One of a variety of means used by archaeologists to find, recover, analyze, preserve, and describe the artifacts and other remains of past human activities: In one of her classes of archeology, she learned all about important archaeological methods used at the sites where objects of ancient times had been found.

The technique of finding, specifying, and documenting the locations of very old historical sites on the ground by examining different contrasts in the various environments and geographic configurations: In his class of archaeological reconnaissance, James used a special tool called an auger to make holes in the ground so he could extract samples of soil in order to understand the physical features of what once existed in certain areas.

The surviving physical remains of past human activities, which are sought, recovered, analyzed, preserved, and described by archaeologists in an attempt to reconstruct the past: Interesting enough, an archaeological record does not include anything written, but only the physical evidence about the historic past.

The act or process of obtaining artifacts from a site for the purpose of deriving archaeological data: On her first day at the historical site, Violet was overwhelmed at the detailed work of the archaeological recovery of the jugs and cups found beneath the old school house.

A method of placing a group of similar objects into a chronological sequence: An archaeological sequence must also take into account the stylistic changes of the items that have occurred over time.

Any concentration of artifacts, ecofacts, features, and structures manufactured or modified by humans: The archaeological site that Mrs. Black's class visited was a place where the students could see preserved evidence of activities of people who had lived in prehistoric times.

A method used to examine an area to determine if there are any deposits available of people and their cultures: An archaeological survey is a kind of field research to look for archaeological sites, gather information about that locality, in addition to other detailed investigational activities.

Any theoretical concept used to assess the framework and meaning of the remains of past human activity; An archaeological theory refers to the reconstruction and interpretation of the past by looking beyond the facts and artifacts for explanations of prehistoric events.

An arbitrary division of classification set up by an archaeologist to separate one grouping of artifacts from another in space and time: Those helping the archaeologist at the historical site were busy arranging the ancient man-made objects in archaeological units.

Of, relating to, or concerning archaeology: Jack was totally fascinated by the remains of the historic past and decided to go to an archaeological school and later work at archaeological sites!

The scientific study and reconstruction of the human past through the systematic recovery of the physical remains of man's life and cultures: Artifacts, structures, settlements, materials, and features of prehistoric or ancient peoples are all part of archaeology including being surveyed and/or excavated to uncover history in times before written records.

Archaeology also supplements the study of recorded history. From the end of the 18th century onwards, archaeology has come to mean the branch of learning which studies the material remains of mankind's past. Its scope is, therefore, enormous, ranging from the first stone tools made and fashioned by man over three million years ago in Africa, to the garbage thrown into our trash cans and taken to city dumps and incinerators yesterday.

The objectives of archaeology are to construct cultural history by ordering and describing the events of the past, to study cultural processes to explain the meaning of those events and what underlies and conditions human behavior, and to reconstruct past lifeways.

Among the specialties in the field are: archaeobiology, archaeobotany, archaeozoology, and social archaeology. Modern archaeology, which is often considered a subdiscipline of anthropology, has become increasingly scientific and relies on a wide variety of experts, such as biologists, geologists, physicists, sociologists, anthropologists, and historians.

The methods appropriate to different periods vary, leading to specialized branches of the subject, e.g. classical, medieval, industrial, etc. archaeology.

The implementation of scientific methods and techniques to archaeology: Archaeometry is the large field of work that entails the physical and/or chemical analyses (measurement) of archaeological substances, their constituents, ages, residues, etc.