Main Entry:

ar·chae·ol·o·gy

Variant(s):

or ar·che·ol·o·gy \ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jē\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French archéologie, from Late Latin archaeologia antiquarian lore, from Greek archaiologia, from archaio- + -logia -logy

Date:

1837

1 : the scientific study of material remains (as fossil relics, artifacts, and monuments) of past human life and activities 2 : remains of the culture of a people : antiquities

— ar·chae·o·log·i·cal \ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— ar·chae·o·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— ar·chae·ol·o·gist \ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jist\ noun