Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek archaios, meaning primal, ancient, or old; and logos, meaning to study) is the science that studies human cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, features, biofacts, and landscapes. Because archaeology's aim is to understand mankind, it is a humanistic endeavor.

The goals of archaeology vary, and there is debate as to what its aims and responsibilities are. Some goals include the documentation and explanation of the origins and development of human cultures, understanding culture history, chronicling cultural evolution, and studying human behavior and ecology, for both prehistoric and historic societies. Archaeologists are also concerned with the study of methods used in the discipline, and the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings underlying the questions archaeologists ask of the past. The tasks of surveying areas in order to find new sites, excavating sites in order to recover cultural remains, classification, analysis, and preservation are all important phases of the archaeological process. These are all important sources of information. Given the broad scope of the discipline there is a great deal of cross-disciplinary research in archaeology.

However, almost uniformly, the Motion Picture Industry portrays archaeologists as ruthless adventurers, grave robbers, and plunderers.  The character Indiana Jones is a prime example of this stereotypical archaeologist.  He is consistently shown as a learned scholar, who smashes and trashes his way through site after site, to seize that one significant artifact.  Almost always loosing the entire context that would make the entire site meaningful.  He jumps to wild speculation without any attempt at real science.  In short, Indiana Jones is a looter!

While characters like these may be likeable, and play the hero in their stories, they almost never represent the real heroes of archaeology:  the countless men and women that toil in the boiling sun, up to their necks in mud, bugs, grime, or in labs and classrooms, the world over.  Archaeology is a slow, painstaking process, with few shortcuts.  The devil is in the details, something that Hollywood never seems to learn!

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