Final answer:
Historical archaeology studies human past through written records alongside material culture, whereas prehistoric archaeology examines times before writing, using artifacts and environmental data to understand ancient societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between historical archaeology and prehistoric archaeology lies in the time periods they study and the types of evidence they examine. Historical archaeology investigates periods for which written records exist, and thus overlaps with the discipline of history. It focuses on the material culture and artifacts that supplement written texts to provide a richer understanding of past human societies. On the other hand, prehistoric archaeology deals with the times before the advent of written records, relying solely on the physical evidence such as tools, fossils, and environmental data to reconstruct human activities, social structures, and cultural practices. Prehistoric times are broadly categorized into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods, with significant developments such as the domestication of animals, the advent of agriculture, and the creation of megalithic structures like Stonehenge. Archaeologists use careful excavation techniques to recover artifacts and fossils that inform about how prehistoric societies adapted to climatic and geographical changes and interacted with their environment.