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Artifacts are tangible objects that were created or modified by humans in the past. They are a crucial source of information for archaeologists and historians, providing insights into past societies, cultures, technologies, and daily lives. Artifacts can range widely in size, material, and complexity, from simple stone tools and pottery fragments to elaborate jewelry, weapons, and architectural elements. Their study, known as artifact analysis, involves careful excavation, documentation, conservation, and interpretation.

The discovery of artifacts is central to archaeological fieldwork. Excavation sites are meticulously surveyed and excavated to recover these objects in their original contexts. The location and association of an artifact with other objects and features are as important as the artifact itself, as this context helps to understand its function and significance within the past environment. Dating methods, such as radiocarbon dating or thermoluminescence, are often applied to organic materials or ceramics found with artifacts to establish their age.

Artifacts are analyzed for a variety of purposes. Their material composition can reveal trade networks and resource availability. Their form and decoration can indicate cultural affiliations, artistic styles, and technological capabilities. Wear patterns on tools, for instance, can demonstrate how they were used, while residues found in pottery can show what was stored or cooked in them. By studying these objects, archaeologists can reconstruct past human behaviors, social structures, and belief systems, piecing together the human story over millennia.