Skip to main content
paleology

paleology

9.9
The study of very old tools and objects from before written history
  • noun
  • /ˌpeɪliˈɑːdʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : paleología
  • Studying paleology allows researchers to understand the tools and habits of ancient civilizations.

Examples

  • As an expert in paleology, she often attends conferences to discuss discoveries from the prehistoric era.

  • The museum's exhibit featured various paleology findings that shed light on early human life.

  • Also, as to precedent, I keep hearing people speak of precedent and then offer into evidence hearsay and speculation, narrow regional histories, or ambiguously interpreted paleologies.

    Blog text (10)

Synonyms

archeology
vspaleology
  • US
4 3.7

The study of human history by digging up and examining old objects and buildings

is narrower, concentrating on ancient artifacts and antiquities especially prehistoric
protoarcheology
vspaleology
  • Specialized
9.9

A study of very old human tools, bones, and how people lived before writing

focuses on ancient artifacts and antiquities rather than fossils

Surface Forms

paleology singular
paleologies plural

Morphology

paleology = paleo + logy

The word is transparently built from the combining form paleo- 'ancient' and the suffix -logy 'study', yielding 'study of ancient things'.

Etymology

Paleology comes from two Greek parts: paleo- meaning 'old' and -logy meaning 'study', as in paleontology. So, paleology is the 'study of old things', especially ancient objects and artifacts from very early human times.