Archeologia

Ar archeologia is the systematic study of past human life and cultures through material remains. It seeks to reconstruct how people lived, organized themselves, and interacted with their environment, drawing on artifacts, architecture, settlement patterns, and biofacts. The field is interdisciplinary, combining anthropology, history, geology, chemistry, and digital technologies to interpret material evidence within its cultural and environmental context.

Methods include field survey, excavation, site recording, mapping, and typological analysis. Laboratory work covers dating, materials analysis, residue studies, and bioarchaeology. Key dating methods include radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, thermoluminescence, and optically stimulated luminescence. Archaeologists also use GIS, 3D modeling, and digital databases to manage and present data.

Archeologia encompasses various subfields such as prehistoric archaeology, historical archaeology, classical archaeology, underwater archaeology, and industrial archaeology. The discipline ranges from rescue excavations to long-term regional surveys. Theoretical approaches range from processual (scientific explanations of change) to post-processual (emphasis on meaning, symbolism, and agency) and critical archaeology that examines power and ethics in research.

Ethics and heritage management are central to archeologia. Fieldwork emphasizes informed consent, benefit-sharing with descendant communities, and the protection of archaeological sites from looting. Results are disseminated through publications, museums, and open digital archives to contribute to public knowledge and education while supporting conservation and legal compliance.