what is an archeologist

Archaeologists are experts on history who study ancient cultures as well as recent historic occupations. They analyze and interpret material remains left behind by past societies to understand human history and prehistory. Archaeologists are interested in animal bones, plant remains, and certain stones. They spend much more of their time in the laboratory analyzing artifacts and data than they do in the field. Archaeologists analyze artifacts, features, and other information recovered in the field to help answer their research questions. During the investigative process, they might seek to learn when people occupied the site, the purpose of the objects recovered, what the people ate, the kinds of structures they built, with whom they traded, and much more. Archaeologists also analyze individual artifacts, such as tools, weapons, dress, and living structures, to learn about the people who made and used them. They may also look at how the site they are analyzing relates to other sites. Archaeologists may specialize in different areas, such as bioarchaeology, environmental archaeology, or cultural resource management. They may encounter ethical dilemmas, such as the appropriate treatment of human remains found at archaeological sites.