archaeology

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

archaeology
    n 1: the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people
         and their cultures [syn: {archeology}, {archaeology}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Archaeology \Ar`ch[ae]*ol"o*gy\ ([aum]r`k[-e]*[o^]l"[-o]*j[y^]),
   n. [Gr. 'archaiologi`a; 'archai^os ancient (fr. 'archh`
   beginning) + lo`gos discourse, le`gein to speak.]
   The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric
   antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of
   an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics,
   written manuscripts, etc.
   [1913 Webster]