Artefacts

An artefact is an object that has been deliberately made or modified by humans and that holds cultural, historical, or methodological interest. In archaeology and related disciplines, artefacts are studied to understand how past peoples produced, used, and organized their material world. Artefacts are distinguished from natural objects and from features, such as structures or hearths, which are not portable.

Artefacts cover a broad range of material remains. Common categories include lithic artefacts (stone tools and cores), ceramic artefacts (pottery vessels, tile fragments), metal artefacts (tools, weapons, coins), and organic artefacts (textiles, leather, wood) when preservation allows. Artistic objects, personal ornaments, and ritual items are also regarded as artefacts. The distribution and characteristics of artefacts in a site help researchers infer function, trade networks, social status, and cultural practices.

Archaeologists interpret artefacts by recording their context, form, manufacturing marks, and wear. Typology and seriation methods group artefacts into sequences that reveal technological change. Dating relies on relative methods such as stratigraphy and cross-dating, as well as absolute methods like radiocarbon, dendrochronology, or luminescence techniques.

Preservation and ethics are central to artefact study. Artefacts must be conserved, documented, and stored properly to prevent decay. Professional and legal frameworks address ownership, provenance, and repatriation, and looting and illicit trade are widely opposed. Museums and researchers emphasize transparency, accurate recording of context, and responsible interpretation to ensure artefacts contribute to public knowledge.