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

Take a closer look at a find that has stunned the archaeology world. —Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Tim Williams, professor of silk roads archaeology at University College London in England, emphasized the significance of the findings, which reveal a more complex upland urban landscape than previously imagined. —Hannah Peart, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024

Learn about archaeology and Indigenous culture in Borrego Springs The Colorado Desert Archaeology Society will host a free archaeology day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park visitor center (200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs). —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Although lidar was developed in the 1960s to study clouds and atmospheric particles, its application in archaeology is relatively recent. —Anna Lagos, WIRED, 30 Oct. 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