artefak

Artefak is an object produced or modified by humans, typically studied in archaeology, anthropology, history, and related disciplines. The term emphasizes human agency in material remains and is used to distinguish man-made items from natural objects. Spelling varies by language, with artefak, artefact, or artefact commonly used in different regions.

In archaeology, artefak refers to portable objects that have been shaped, modified, or used by people. This includes tools and weapons (such as flaked stones or metal implements), pottery and ceramic vessels, jewelry and ornaments, inscriptions, and small personal items. Non-portable evidence such as buildings, walls, and landscape features are usually termed features rather than artefak, though they contribute to interpretation when recovered in association with artefak.

Classification and dating rely on typology, context, and dating methods. Typology groups artefak by form, function, and stylistic attributes to trace cultural change and trade networks. Dating methods range from relative techniques like stratigraphy and seriation to absolute methods such as radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, and thermoluminescence, which place artefak within a chronological framework.

Significance lies in the information artefak provide about technology, economy, social organization, and daily life. They help reconstruct past behaviors, technologies, and interactions between communities. In modern contexts, the term artefak can also refer to by-products or deliverables in information technology and design, such as plans, models, or code produced during a project.

Preservation and interpretation of artefak are central to museums, research, and cultural heritage, where careful cataloging and contextual analysis support scholarship and public understanding.