Wikipedia:Wikiportal/Archaeology/Intro
From Wikipedia
Archaeology is the study of past human life and culture through systematically examining and interpreting the material remains left behind. These material remains include archaeological sites (e.g. settlements, building features, graves), as well as cultural materials or artifacts such as tools and pottery. Through the interpretation and classification of archaeological materials, archaeologists work to understand past human behaviour from the earliest evidence of cultural behavior (e.g. tool making of hominids) to today. In some countries, archaeology is often historical or art historical, with a strong emphasis on culture history, archaeological sites, and artifacts as art objects. In the New World, archaeology can be either a part of history and classical studies or anthropology. Anthropological archaeology is a method of analysis within cultural anthropology, which attempts to identify and reconstruct past lifeways. In general, however, archaeology has moved on from an object-based collection of art objects, to a field that tries to understand motivations, causes, and effects in past cultures.