Final answer:
Historical archaeology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on studying past societies through physical remains and the integration of written records and oral histories. It emphasizes the study of relatively recent time periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historical archaeology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on the study of past societies through the analysis of physical remains, such as artifacts and structures. It combines archaeological methods with historical research to understand how people lived in the past. What distinguishes historical archaeology from other archaeological research is its emphasis on the study of relatively recent time periods, typically within the past few centuries, and its integration of written records and oral histories to interpret the material culture.