Final answer:
Historic archaeologists use written texts to study past societies, while prehistoric archaeologists rely on artifacts and environmental evidence to understand human history before writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between historic and prehistoric archaeologists is that historic archaeologists have access to written texts or documents from the past, which serve as primary sources. These texts help them build narratives and understand the context of the societies they study. In contrast, prehistoric archaeologists do not have written records at their disposal, because they study periods before the advent of written language. They rely on material culture, such as artifacts, fossils, and environmental data, to reconstruct past human behaviors and social organization.