What is Archaeology?
Archaeology is the scientific study of human history through the examination of ancient material remains. Research in archaeology involves the study of settlement patterns in different regions, agricultural evolution, relative arrangement of city-states, failure of large empires, and includes an in-depth look into migration and interaction between cultures.
Artifacts are physical remnants of culture left by past populations. Examples of artifacts include ancient tools, food remains and food processing equipment, personal artifacts, architectural debris, and objects used for leisure activities.
Features of societies, also known as organic residues, include the remains of prehistoric hearths, postmolds from ancient structures, midden debris from garbage dumps, privies, concentration of work and resource processing areas.
Chronology of American Archaeology