L-arkeoloġija hija l-istudju xjentifiku tal-attività umana permezz tal-irkupru u l-analiżi tal-kultura materjali. Reġistru arkeoloġiku jikkonsisti mill-artefatti, l-arkitettura, il-bijofatti jew l-ekofatti, is-siti, u l-pajsaġġi kulturali. L-arkeoloġija tista' titqies kemm bħala xjenza soċjali kif ukoll bħala fergħa tal-umanitajiet.^[1][2] Fl-Ewropa spiss titqies jew bħala dixxiplina jew inkella bħala sottoqasam ta' dixxiplini oħra, filwaqt li fl-Amerka ta' Fuq l-arkeoloġija hija sottoqasam tal-antopoloġija.^[3]

L-arkeologi jistudjaw il-preistorja u l-istorja umana, mill-iżvilupp tal-ewwel għodod tal-ġebel f'Lomekwi fil-Lvant tal-Afrika 3.3 miljun sena ilu sal-aħħar deċennji.^[4] L-arkeoloġija hija distinta mill-paleontoloġija, li hija l-istudju tal-fdalijiet tal-fossili. L-arkeoloġija hija partikolarment importanti biex nitgħallmu dwar soċjetajiet preistoriċi, li dwarhom ma hemm l-ebda tagħrif bil-miktub. Il-preistorja tinkludi iktar minn 99 % tal-imgħoddi tal-bniedem, mill-Paleolitiku sal-litteriżmu fis-soċjetajiet madwar id-dinja. L-arkeoloġija għandha diversi għanijiet, li jvarjaw mill-fehim tal-istorja kulturali, għar-rikostruzzjoni tal-istili ta' ħajja tal-imgħoddi, għad-dokumentazzjoni u l-ispjegazzjoni tat-tibdil fis-soċjetajiet umani maż-żmien.^[5] It-terminu "arkeoloġija" oriġina mill-Grieg u litteralment ifisser "l-istudju tal-istorja tal-qedem".^[6]

Id-dixxiplina tinvolvi l-istħarriġ, l-iskavi u eventwalment l-analiżi tad-data li tinġabar biex wieħed jitgħallem iktar dwar l-imgħoddi. F'ambitu wiesa', l-arkeoloġija tiddependi fuq ir-riċerka bejn dixxiplini differenti.

L-arkeoloġija żviluppat mill-antikwarjaniżmu fl-Ewropa matul is-seklu 19, u minn dak iż-żmien saret dixxiplina pprattikata madwar id-dinja kollha. L-arkeoloġija ntużat min-nazzjonijiet u mill-istati biex jinħolqu viżjonijiet partikolari tal-imgħoddi.^[7] Mill-iżvilupp bikri tagħha, żviluppaw diversi sottodixxiplini speċifiċi tal-arkeoloġija, inkluż l-arkeoloġija marittima, l-arkeoloġija femminista u l-arkeoastronomija. Barra minn hekk, ġew żviluppati bosta tekniki xjentifiċi differenti biex jgħinu fl-investigazzjoni arkeoloġika. Minkejja dan, illum il-ġurnata, l-arkeologi jiffaċċjaw bosta problemi, bħall-psewdoarkeoloġija, is-serq tal-artefatti, nuqqas ta' interess pubbliku, u l-oppożizzjoni għall-iskavi ta' fdalijiet umani.^[8]

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