Definition

1. Noun:
   • The scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. It is the branch of anthropology that focuses on understanding past human societies by recovering and examining material culture.

Usage

• As a subject or field of study: Archeology is used to refer to the academic discipline itself.
  • She decided to major in archeology.
  • Advances in archeology have changed our understanding of ancient trade routes.
• As an activity or practice: It refers to the work of investigating past human life.
  • The archeology conducted at the site revealed a previously unknown settlement.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "The archeology of...": Used to specify the study of a particular place, period, or aspect.
  • She specializes in the archeology of the Roman Empire.
  • The book provides an overview of the archeology of shipwrecks.

Variants and Related Words

• Archaeology (noun): The standard British English spelling and a common variant in American English. It has the same meaning as 'archeology'.
• Archeological (adjective): Relating to archeology.
  • Archeological evidence suggests a long period of occupation.
• Archeologist (noun): A person who studies or practices archeology.
  • The archeologist carefully brushed dirt from the pottery shard.

Synonyms

• Prehistory: The period of human history before written records, often studied through archeology.
• Excavation: The process of digging to uncover archeological remains, often used metonymically for the field.

Related Phrases

• Field archeology: The practical work of surveying and excavating sites.
  • He spent the summer doing field archeology in Greece.
• Experimental archeology: A method of research that attempts to replicate ancient techniques to understand past processes.
  • Experimental archeology helped them figure out how the tools were used.

Noun

1. the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures