archaeological
Concerning ancient ruins
Archaeological describes things relating to archaeology—the study of human history through excavated sites and artifacts.
Archaeological digs, archaeological evidence, archaeological finds.
The word appears in contexts ranging from academic research to museum exhibits to adventure fiction.
Also spelled archaeologic, though the longer form dominates.
Before documented civilization
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
- paleolithicEarliest tool-making period
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
antiquity · protohistoric · byzantine · predynastic · formative · ancestral
Flat blade for spreading
- trenchLong narrow excavation
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- siteDesignated location
digging · layer · context · fieldwork · sediment · screening · shovel · baulk
Locate through effort
- hoardHidden accumulated valuables
- unearthingDiscovering something hidden
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- tombUnderground chamber for remains
sarcophagus · treasure · inscription · skeleton · burial · cache · midden · potsherd
Hardened clay objects
- lithicsArchaeological stone implements
- bioarchaeologyScience of excavated remains
- osteologyScientific study of bones
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
Isotope-based age measurement
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- dendrochronologyDating via growth rings
- thermoluminescenceLight from heated irradiated material
- seriationSequential arrangement by attribute
typology · radiocarbon · chronology · periodization · potassium-argon
prehistoric
Before documented civilization
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
- paleolithicEarliest tool-making period
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
medieval · antiquity · protohistoric · byzantine · predynastic · formative · ancestral
trowel
Flat blade for spreading
- trenchLong narrow excavation
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
site · digging · layer · context · fieldwork · sediment · screening · shovel · baulk · section
find
Locate through effort
- hoardHidden accumulated valuables
- unearthingDiscovering something hidden
- artifactHuman-made historical object
tomb · sarcophagus · treasure · inscription · skeleton · burial · cache · midden · potsherd · seal
ceramics
Hardened clay objects
- lithicsArchaeological stone implements
- bioarchaeologyScience of excavated remains
- osteologyScientific study of bones
spectroscopy · petrography · coprolites · typology · provenance
carbon-dating
Isotope-based age measurement
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- dendrochronologyDating via growth rings
- thermoluminescenceLight from heated irradiated material
seriation · typology · radiocarbon · chronology · periodization · potassium-argon
ruins
Decayed structural remains
- tellConvey information verbally
- moundHeaped earth formation
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
necropolis · acropolis · tumulus · barrow · megalith · dolmen · cairn · hillfort · ziggurat · stupa
archaeologicalmodern
Of recent times
contemporary · current · present-day · futuristic · cutting-edge
archaeologicaldocumentary
Factual film about reality
ethnographic · archival · anecdotal · textual · literary
- archaeological excavationSystematic unearthing of artifacts
- archaeological siteLocation of historic remains
- archaeological digOrganized unearthing of antiquities
- archaeological ruinsRemnants of past civilizations
- archaeological discoveryArtifact unearthed from antiquity
- archaeological discoveriesArtifacts uncovered through excavation