Final answer:
Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. These cultural material remains, such as pottery, tools, and art unravel the lifestyle, beliefs, and interaction of humans with the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Archaeology is a study where archaeologists utilize artifacts and fossils to comprehend how diverse human cultures have emerged due to environmental and historical components. Artifacts include objects made by humans, such as tools or pottery and fossils include remains of organisms preserved in the environment. Archaeologists have devised meticulous methods of excavation in order to analyze how humans existed in periods prior to and beyond the formation of written communication.
They work on understanding how humans provided for basic needs like clothing and shelter, as well how they assembled their societies in family groups, trade networks, and leadership systems. Furthermore, numerous archaeologists aim to grasp how humans survived in relation to the natural environment around them.
In regard to cultural material remains, these refer to any physical remains of past human life and activities. This can include anything from pottery, stone tools, bones, burial sites, architectural remains and even traces of plants or pollen, to name a few examples. These are the things used or left behind by humans and therefore, can tell us a lot about their ways of life, their beliefs and their interactions with the environment and each other.
Learn more about Archaeology