What subject does archaeology primarily focus on?

Archaeology primarily focuses on ancient studies, as it is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. By examining these materials, archaeologists gain insights into how ancient civilizations lived, their cultures, social structures, and interactions. The field specifically seeks to understand the past by investigating periods long before written records existed, making it inherently tied to ancient studies. This contrasts with modern history, which deals with events that are relatively recent, art history, which focuses on artistic works and their contexts, and geology, which studies the Earth's physical structure and substances rather than human cultural development.