The written system of the Mayan language, for instance, remained a mystery to scholars until the 20th century. Many ancient civilizations had complex writing systems that archaeologists and linguists are still working to decipher. The use of Latin shows how far the empire’s influence extended, and the records themselves can tell archaeologists what foods were avai lable in an area, how much they cost, and what buildings belonged to families or businesses. Latin, the language of ancient Rome, helps archaeologists understand artifacts and features discovered in parts of the Roman Empire. Some of the most valuable written records are everyday items, such as shopping lists and tax forms. Most cultures with writing systems leave written records that archaeologists consult and study. They rely on the enormous stones themselves-how they are arranged and the way the site developed over time. Archaeologists studying Stonehenge do not have ancient manuscripts to tell them how cultures used the feature. Understanding why ancient cultures built the giant stone circles at Stonehenge, England, for instance, remains a challenge 5,000 years after the first monoliths were erected. Prehistoric civilizations did not leave behind written records, so we cannot read about them.
Sometimes, artifacts and features provide the only clues about an ancient community or civilization.
They want to know what these people’s daily lives were like, how they were governed, how they interacted with each other, and what they believed and valued. Archaeologists use artifacts and features to learn how people lived in specific times and places. Non-portable remains, such as pyramids or post-holes, are called features. Artifacts include tools, clothing, and decorations. Portable remains are usually called artifacts. These remains can be any objects that people created, modified, or used.
Archaeology is the study of the human past using material remains.
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