archaeology

noun

ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jē 

variants or archeology

1

: the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities

2

: remains of the culture of a people : antiquities

the archaeology of the Incas

archaeological

ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

archaeologically

ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

archaeologist

ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of archaeology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American. anthropology archaeology animal behavior 1 free article left Want More? —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024

The property has to be at least 50 years old, be associated with a historic event or person, represent an important historic use or era of architecture, or have a significance in archaeology. —Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 3 Dec. 2024

His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American. paleontology anthropology archaeology geology 1 free article left Want More? —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2024

Peru: Using drones and A.I., researchers found hundreds more Nazca Lines, one of archaeology’s most perplexing mysteries. SPORTS Image Formula 1: Max Verstappen won his fourth championship, but 2025 looks wide open. —Gaya Gupta, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French archéologie, from Late Latin archaeologia antiquarian lore, from Greek archaiologia, from archaio- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing archaeology

• industrial archaeology

Kids Definition

archaeology

noun

ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy

variants or archeology

ˌär-kē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

: the science that deals with past human life as shown by fossil relics and the monuments and tools left by ancient peoples

archaeological

-kē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

archaeologist

-kē-ˈäl-ə-jəst 

noun