Icon of an ancient building in ruins in white outline, depicting archaeology, part of a series of 20 popular archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Archaeology

Uncovering the Past

Wordcount: 20 Words
Vocabulary Series: Essential Nouns

Icon of a golden step pyramid, depicting archaeology, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Archaeology

NOUN

Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

Archaeology is a sub-discipline of anthropology and collaborates with numerous other fields, including history, geography, ecology and geology.

Icon of a shovel digging in the earth, depicting archaeological excavation, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Excavation

NOUN

Excavation is the process of systematic digging to uncover archaeological sites, artifacts and structures.

Archaeologists use various tools and techniques during excavation to reveal layers of history.

Icon of a brush sweeping away dust from an ancient vase, depicting an artifact, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Artifact

NOUN

An artifact is a human-made object with cultural or historical significance found during excavations.

Artifacts can range from simple tools or pieces of broken pottery to intricate sculptures and ancient coins.

Icon of an ancient columned monument in decay, depicting ruins, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Ruin

NOUN

A ruin is the remaining part of a structure or settlement, often in decay.

Ruins can include buildings, walls, columns and structural features like foundations and arches.

Icon of a shovel stuck in earth where a bone is buried, depicting a grave, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Grave

NOUN

A grave is a burial site dug in the ground, containing human remains and artifacts.

Graves provide valuable insights into ancient burial practices, beliefs and social structures.

Icon of a burial structure, depicting a tomb, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Tomb

NOUN

A tomb is a structure or monument that serves as a final resting place for one or more deceased individuals.

Tombs can vary in size and complexity, from underground chambers and crypts to elaborate mausoleums and vaults.

burial chamber is a term similar to tomb

Icon of a bone and plants buried in the soil, depicting remains, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Remains

NOUN

Remains are traces of past human activity, including bones, artifacts and structures that have survived without being destroyed, decayed or lost over time.

Analysis of skeletal remains provide information about ancient diets, diseases and population demographics.

Icon of a small clock to represent time next to layers of soil and organic matter, depicting radiocarbon dating, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Radiocarbon Dating

NOUN

Radiocarbon dating is a scientific method to determine the age of organic materials.

Radiocarbon dating is particularly useful for dating organic remains like bones, wood and charcoal found at archaeological sites.

Icon of an animal and hunter painted painted in red on a grey stone, depicting prehistory, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Prehistory

NOUN

Prehistory is the period before written records.

By studying prehistory, archaeologists uncover evidence of early human migrations, settlement patterns and cultural exchanges.

Icon of various drawings on a brown stone, depicting petroglyphs, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Petroglyph

NOUN

A petroglyph is an ancient carving on rock, depicting symbols, animals or scenes.

The study of petroglyphs provides insights into prehistoric art, symbolism and communication practices.

rock art is a term similar to petroglyphs

Icon of wedge-shaped characters impressed into a clay tablet, representing ancient cuneiform writing, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Cuneiform

NOUN

Cuneiform is one of the earliest known systems of writing, developed by the Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE.

Cuneiform consists of wedge-shaped characters representing syllables or words that were impressed onto clay tablets using a stylus.

Icon of symbols such as an eye, bird and water carved into a wall, representing Egyptian hieroglyphics, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Hieroglyphics

NOUN

Hieroglyphics is a system of writing using symbols or pictures found in ancient Egypt.

Hieroglyphics consist of pictorial symbols that represent objects, concepts or sounds, commonly found on temple walls, tombs and scrolls.

Icon of a large grey stone resting on top of two other large grays stones, representing a megalith, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Megalith

NOUN

A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument.

Examples of megaliths include stone circles, dolmens and menhirs.

Icon of a large white and grey pillar from ancient Greece, representing a column, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Column

NOUN

A column is a tall, vertical pillar that provides support and decoration, found in buildings, temples and monuments.

Ancient architecture features three distinct column styles: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.

pillar is a word similar to column

Icon of an archaeologist walking through an archeological site, depicting fieldwork, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Fieldwork

NOUN

Fieldwork is hands-on research conducted at archaeological sites to discover and study artifacts and other remains from ancient civilizations.

Fieldwork is a fundamental aspect of archaeology, requiring meticulous planning, excavation and documentation of findings.

Icon of a hand tool called a trowel used for digging, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Trowel

NOUN

A trowel is a small tool with a flat metal blade used by archaeologists for digging and excavating.

Proper technique and skillful use of a trowel are crucial for avoiding damage to delicate artifacts during excavation.

Icon of an ancient vase with a piece broken off to represent a fragment, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Fragment

NOUN

A fragment is a small part broken off of something larger.

Even tiny fragments can provide valuable information about past societies, economies and technologies when studied in combination with other archaeological evidence.

piece is a similar word to fragment

Icon of an old piece of parchment paper, depicting a scroll, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Scroll

NOUN

A scroll is an old rolled-up paper or parchment with writing or pictures on it.

Archaeologists occasionally discover well-preserved scrolls in archaeological sites, offering valuable insights into ancient writing systems and cultural practices.

Icon of a magnifying glass inspecting and learning about an ancient vase, depicting a discovery, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Discovery

NOUN

A discovery is the process of uncovering information, a place or an object, especially for the first time.

Discoveries can range from small finds like pottery fragments to monumental revelations such as ancient cities or tombs.

finding is a similar word to discovery

Icon of ancient vases on display in a museum, depicting preservation, part of a series of 20 essential archaeology-related vocabulary words.

Preservation

NOUN

Preservation is the process of protecting and maintaining artifacts, structures and archaeological sites.

Effective preservation ensures that valuable cultural heritage remains intact for future generations to study and appreciate.

conservation is a similar word to preservation