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Fields of archaeology
Archaeology covers such an enormous span of time that archaeologists specialize in different time periods and different cultures. They also specialize in particular methods of study. Some archaeologists study human biological and cultural evolution up to the emergence of modern humans. Others focus on more recent periods of major cultural development, such as the rice of civilizations. Some study only the ancient or classical civilization of the middle East or Europe. Others research later historical subjects and time periods, using both written and archaeological evidence. Many archaeologists have expertise in other fields that are important to archaeological study, including physical anthropology ( the study of human biology and anatomy ) , geology, ecology, and climatology ( the science of weather patterns).

A. Prehistoric Archaeology

Prehistoric archaeology is practiced by archaeologists known as prehistorians and deals with ancient cultures that did not have writing of any kind. Prehistory, a term coined by 19th – century French scholars, covers past human life from of writing – began 5000 years ago in parts of southwestern asia and as recently as the late 19th century AD in central Africa and parts of the Americas. Because there are no written records for prehistory, prehistorians rely entirely on material remains for evidence.

Discoveries of early human ancestors have changed the why many people think about what is the means to be human. For instance, researchers working in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya have found evidence that some humans ancestor who lived about 2 million years ago were scavengers. They used stone tools to butcher game taken from the kills or predators such as lion. In 1978 at laetoli, Tanzania, paleoanthropologist mary leakey discovered a fascinating early human site : sets of hominid footprints left in now-hardened volcanic ash. This fine provides some of the strongest evidence that hominids...