Final answer:
Historical archaeology is the exploration of the recent past through the examination of physical remains, artifacts, and written or oral records, combining archaeological techniques with historical research to gain a comprehensive understanding of past societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Archaeology and History: Exploring the Recent Past
The exploration of the more recent past through an examination of physical remains, artifacts, as well as written or oral records is often referred to as historical archaeology. This field combines the techniques of archaeology and historical research to understand human history and prehistory. Historical archaeologists study physical remains including ruins of structures, human remains, and artifacts like pottery, tools, and personal items, alongside written documents and oral histories to piece together the lifestyles, cultures, and societies of the past. The process of excavation is a meticulous one, where artifacts are carefully uncovered and studied to glean as much information as possible about their origins and the people who made and used them.
Fields such as forensic anthropology and fieldwork contribute to our comprehensive understanding of past human societies. Furthermore, approaches like the emic perspective aim to view cultures from insider viewpoints, while others employ an etic perspective, observing cultures from an outsider's position. The interplay of these disciplines—history, archaeology, and anthropology—helps us understand both prehistoric and historic periods, with historians often depending on archaeological findings to understand eras not well-documented by written records.