( NAmE also arche·ology ) / ˌɑːkiˈɒlədʒi; NAmE ˌɑːrkiˈɑːl-/ noun
[ U ] the study of cultures of the past, and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the ground
—see also industrial archaeology
► arch·aeo·logic·al ( NAmE also arch·eo·logic·al ) / ˌɑːkiəˈlɒdʒɪkl; NAmE ˌɑːrkiəˈlɑːdʒ-/ adjective :
archaeological excavations / evidence
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (in the sense ancient history ): from modern Latin archaeologia , from Greek arkhaiologia ancient history, from arkhaios ancient. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.