palaetiology

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

palaetiology
    n 1: the explanation of past events in terms of scientific
         causes (as geological causes) [syn: {paletiology},
         {palaetiology}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

palaetiology \palaetiology\, Palaetiology \Pa*l[ae]`ti*ol"o*gy\,
   n. [Pal[ae]o- + [ae]tiology.]
   The science which explains, by the law of causation, the past
   condition and changes of the earth; the explanation of past
   events in terms of scientific causes, such as geological
   causes. -- {Pa*l[ae]`ti*o*log"ic*al}, a.

   Syn: paletiology.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]