Definition: Archaeology is the study of the human past, including everything from yesterday's garbage in the landfill to the impressions of footprints in the mud at Laetoli by our ancestor Australopithecus. Whether studied in a classics department as part of ancient history, or in an anthropology department as part of human cultures, then, archaeology is always about people and our immediate ancestors, and never about dinosaurs, "intelligent design", or space aliens.
Some scholars and regular folks prefer to spell archaeology with an 'e' rather than an 'ae': archeology. Read the etymology of Archeology, and vote for your preference while you're at it.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Some scholars and regular folks prefer to spell archaeology with an 'e' rather than an 'ae': archeology. Read the etymology of Archeology, and vote for your preference while you're at it.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Alternate Spellings: Archeology, which definition includes a description of the etymology of the word.
