Archaeology: what is it?

Question

Archaeology: what is it?

Answer 1

Archaeology is the new name or term which gives license to rob and desecrate the graves of our ancestors. It is just another digusting way of topping up the coffers of the rich

Answer 2

study of ancient cultures through their artifacts

Answer 3

It is the study of ancient human cultures, through the recovery, documentation, analysis and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, features, biofacts, and landscapes.

Answer 4

Archaeology is the study of past cultures, mainly by their material remains, such as artifacts, bones, and so on.

Most archaeologists are prehistorical archaeologist.  They deal with the material remains of culture that existed before written record (from around 1.9 million years ago to 10,000 years ago).

Many are also historical archaeologists that study the material remains of peoples who left written records (from around 10,000 years ago to 5,000 years ago).

There are also classical archaeologists who study "classic" states (such as Rome and Greece from 4,000 years ago to about 1,500 years ago).

Maritime Archaeologist study any material remains related to oceanic environment.

Finally, public archaeologists (cultural resource management) work to protect the past and preserve all material remains that can be destroyed and lost forever.

Answer 5

There are some very good answers above.

However, after 21 years of doing archaeology professionally, I have arrived at a much simpler and less restrictive definition.  

To me, archaeology is the study of the human past.  And yes, this encompasses history, the classics, art and architectural history, and a great deal more.  Limiting one's practice area to the study or artifacts and ecofacts, or prehistory, is simply too confining at both the theoretical and practical levels.  

However, if you are asking this question because you need to answer it for homework, use one of the definitions above.  You would have to be an experienced professional archaeologist to understand my definition, and the chances are that your teacher is not.