Final answer:
The study of past societies through analysis of artifacts is called archaeology, a field that uses scientific methods to uncover and analyze artifacts and fossils, shedding light on ancient cultures and human interactions with the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Study of Past Societies: Archaeology
The study of past societies through the analysis of artifacts is called archaeology. Archaeologists delve into the lives of ancient societies by examining man-made objects such as pottery, tools, and everyday items as well as natural remains like fossils. Artifacts and fossils reveal much about how people lived, met their basic needs, and interacted with their surroundings and each other. Archaeological excavation is a scientific process that carefully uncovers these objects to gain insights into historical and prehistoric human cultures.
Since the inception of writing marks the starting point of 'history' as an academic study, archaeology becomes particularly crucial for understanding societies predating written records. It is a field closely related to history, where both disciplines often work hand in hand, as written artifacts are limited from such early times. By employing scientific methods and respecting the principles of stratigraphy such as the cross-cutting relationship, archaeologists can date and contextualize their findings, which include employing techniques like dendrochronology and chronometric dating methods.
Moreover, archaeological findings provide valuable data for related fields such as ethnology and art history by contributing to a holistic understanding of human culture. This interdisciplinary approach allows scientists to piece together how ancient peoples lived and interacted with their environment, altering it and being shaped by it in turn. The field of archaeology is imperative in bringing to light the human past and assisting in the interpretation of cultural developments over millennia.