Archaeological research is the research and analysis of the archaeological record, where archaeological record denotes material remains form the past, like artifacts, biofacts, ecofacts, architecture, and cultural landscapes. The goal is to study the human past.
Best sources for learning about the history are called the primary sources like tax records, books, photographs, diaries and maps. Secondary sources on the other hand are stories based on facts.
Archaeologists must use these sources in order to gain information about the past they are interested in.