'''Archaeology''' (or '''archeology''') is the study of past [[human]] life as revealed by preserved [[relic]]s. <ref>Exploring Creation with General Science, by Dr. Jay L. Wile</ref>
In the US, archeology is the branch of American [[Anthropology]] that reconstructs, describes, and interprets human behavior and [[cultural]] patterns through material remains such as [[artifact]]s, ecofacts, and lithics.<ref>Kottak, Conrad. 2005. ''Window on humanity: A Concise Introduction to Anthropology'' New York: McGraw-Hill</ref> In most [[European]] universities, archaeology is typically a part of the [[history]] department.
Archaeologists rely on the careful [[excavation]] interpretation of artifacts in order to explore the past. The quintessential experience of all archaeologists is the "dig", or field excavation. In actuality, an excavation is nothing more than very precise, very scientific hole digging. Archaeologists must measure and record the exact position in three dimensions of an artifact, and also note differences in soil composition, stratification, color, and consistency. When an arcaheological dig is complete, the researchers must be able to reconstruct the exact locations of all the artifacts and ecofacts that were removed from the site. Failure to do this results in a loss of context, and ultimately data that are unusable.
==See Alsoalso==
*[[Essay: The earliest Christian Church, a prison in Armageddon]]
*[[Gates of Hell]] (Tel Dan)