archaeologist

Everyday

An archaeologist is a scientist who studies how people lived long ago by digging up and examining old things they left behind, such as bones, tools, pots and buildings. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons archaeologists explain how we know about the Stone Age, Romans, Vikings and Egyptians: they dig carefully, record where each find was, and date it. Archaeologists study human remains and things people made; dinosaur bones are studied by palaeontologists instead. In stories, archaeologists explore tombs and lost cities.

Examples

• The archaeologist found a Roman coin in the field. tree →
• Archaeologists dig very slowly with small trowels and brushes. tree →
• An archaeologist can tell how old a pot is. tree →
• Archaeologists found a Viking ship under the ground. tree →
• When I grow up I want to be an archaeologist. tree →
• The archaeologists marked every find on a map. tree →
• Archaeologists study ancient Egypt by looking at tombs. tree →

Note

Spelling: UK «archaeologist» (with «ae»); US also «archeologist». Pronounced «ar-kee-OL-uh-jist». Trap: archaeologists do not dig up dinosaurs — that is palaeontology.

In Jewish tradition

In history lessons archaeologists explain how we know about the Stone Age, Romans, Vikings and Egyptians: they dig carefully, record where each find was, and date it. Archaeologists study human remains and things people made; dinosaur bones are studied by palaeontologists instead. In stories, archaeologists explore tombs and lost cities.

Examples

• But the time of its composition and the name of its author have not yet been ascertained, despite of the most elaborate researches of renowned archaeologists. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Spelling: UK «archaeologist» (with «ae»); US also «archeologist». Pronounced «ar-kee-OL-uh-jist». Trap: archaeologists do not dig up dinosaurs — that is palaeontology.