archaeology, also spelled archeology, the scientific study of the material remains of past human life and activities. ... Archaeological investigations are a principal source of knowledge of prehistoric, ancient, and extinct culture.

Is archaeology a science or history?

Archaeology can be considered both a social science and a branch of the humanities. ... Archaeologists study human prehistory and history, from the development of the first stone tools at Lomekwi in East Africa 3.3 million years ago up until recent decades.

Why is archaeology not a science?

Archaeology would not by this definition be a social science, because, although much of archaeology does aim to understand past human society, there are many archaeologists, such as environmental archaeologists, specialists on ancient technology, and on survey techniques (for example, geophysical survey), whose work is ...