Archeology – Definition & Meaning

Archaeology is a fascinating and important field of study that has helped us to understand the past and the origins of human civilization. It is a multidisciplinary field that combines aspects of anthropology, geology, history, and other disciplines to uncover and interpret the physical remains of past human societies.

Definitions

Archaeology is defined as the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. It is the study of human societies and cultures through the analysis of material remains, such as buildings, tools, pottery, and other artifacts.

Origin

The term archaeology comes from the Greek words “archaios” meaning ancient, and “logos” meaning word or discourse. The word archaeology was first used in the 17th century to describe the study of ancient artifacts and monuments.

Meaning in different dictionaries

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, archaeology is “the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines archaeology as “the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities.”

Associations

Archaeology is associated with a wide range of disciplines including anthropology, history, geology, biology, and art history. It is also associated with a variety of subfields such as classical archaeology, historical archaeology, underwater archaeology, and forensic archaeology.

Synonyms

Synonyms for archaeology include antiquarianism, paleontology, and prehistory.

Antonyms

Antonyms for archaeology include modernity, futurism, and contemporaneity.

The same root words

The same root words as archaeology include archaic, archaism, and archaize.

Example Sentences

1. The archaeology team uncovered a cache of ancient pottery in the ruins of a temple.
2. The study of archaeology has helped us to understand the origins of human civilization.
3. The artifacts found by the archaeologists provided valuable insights into the daily lives of the ancient inhabitants.
4. The field of archaeology is constantly evolving as new discoveries are made and new technologies are developed.
5. The archaeologist carefully documented each artifact before removing it from the excavation site.