Vestige

Vestige refers to a trace or remnant of something that has disappeared or been significantly altered. The word comes from the Latin vestigium, meaning a trace or footprint, and entered English with the sense of a remaining sign of a former thing. In general use, a vestige is any small remnant, sign, or hint left by a prior state, culture, environment, or process.

In archaeology and history, vestiges are surviving features that indicate past activities or ways of life, such as ruins, tools, or landscape patterns. They provide evidence about civilizations, ecosystems, and historical changes, even when the original context is no longer present.

In biology, vestigial structures are anatomical features that have diminished in size or function through evolution. They reflect evolutionary history and descent with modification. Classic examples cited in textbooks include the coccyx (tailbone) in humans and, traditionally, the appendix; however, some structures may retain limited or context-dependent functions, and research continues to clarify their roles.

The term is also used more broadly to describe lingering cultural, linguistic, or behavioral traces—customs, words, or practices that persist after the activities or conditions that produced them have faded. Vestiges can thus be informative indicators of past life and evolution, even when they no longer serve the original purpose.