Archaeology is a science that studies people's lives and social conditions at that time based on the physical remains left by ancient human activities, and then analyzes the historical process of human culture and social development, and explores the background, causes and laws of its development and change. Archaeology is a part of history in the broad sense, and together with documentary history, it undertakes the task of studying human history. The study of archaeology is mainly the relics and relics left over from ancient human activities, and it belongs to the category of humanities because it aims to study human culture and society. Since the acquisition and study of these relics and relics requires the use of a variety of natural sciences and technical means (including geology, biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, environmental science, agriculture, computer science, etc.), and the interpretation of people's consciousness, behavior and social conditions in the past through these relics also requires the use of various humanities and social sciences methods (including documentary history, linguistics, sociology, ethnology and folklore, anthropology, religion, economics, political science, law, etc.), Archaeology is one of the largest interdisciplinary disciplines. With the development of contemporary archaeology, various natural science and technology methods have been more and more widely used in all aspects of archaeological research, so that the characteristics of archaeology interdisciplinary have become more prominent, the scientific and technological content has been continuously improved, and the amount of information obtained by archaeologists from archaeological data has increased greatly, so the requirements for archaeologists' knowledge structure and multidisciplinary combination are also getting higher and higher. The basic research methods of archaeology: archaeological stratigraphy and archaeological typology are derived from the stratigraphy of geology and the taxonomy of biology, respectively. The basic research steps are: archaeological investigation, archaeological excavation, collation of field data obtained from investigation and excavation, testing and analysis of various specimens (such as scientific dating, analysis of physical structure and chemical composition, etc.), preparation of archaeological investigation or excavation reports, special research or comprehensive research, and writing academic papers or monographs. Archaeology can be divided into several sub-disciplines. For example, according to the age characteristics of the material remains studied, they can be divided into Paleolithic archaeology, Neolithic archaeology, Bronze Age archaeology, Iron Age archaeology, modern archaeology, etc. According to the research area, it can be divided into European archaeology, American archaeology, East Asian archaeology, Mediterranean archaeology, etc.; According to the countries it researches, it can be divided into Egyptian archaeology, Indian archaeology, Chinese archaeology, etc.; According to its research fields and methods, it can be divided into field archaeology, environmental archaeology, agricultural archaeology, metallurgical archaeology, zooarchaeology, social archaeology, cognitive archaeology, aviation archaeology, underwater archaeology, etc. Archaeology is not just about studying the past. It can also provide reference and reference for historical experience on various major issues faced by human society through research and exposition of the path that mankind has traveled and the historical experience it has accumulated. For example, the protection of the living environment of human beings and the sustainable development of human society, the mutual exchanges between different cultures and civilizations, the respect and protection of cultural diversity, and the protection of human cultural heritage. (Wang Wei)

Stone Age: The earliest stage of human history in archaeology. At that time, stone tools were used as the main tools of labor. From the advent of human beings until the beginning of the Bronze Age, it lasted two to three million years. It belongs to the period of primitive society in the history of mankind. According to the different stages of development reflected by the characteristics of stone tools, it can be divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. (Zhu Naicheng) Paleolithic: The early stage of the Upper Stone Age in archaeology. It lasted two to three million years. At that time, human beings used stone tools and lived a life of gathering, fishing and hunting. It corresponds to the stage in human history from the emergence of primitive groups to matriarchal clan communes. The Paleolithic human fossils that have been discovered in China include Yuanmou Ape Man, Lantian Ape Man, Beijing Ape Man, Yunxian Man, Nanjing Man, Dali Man, Jinniushan Man, Maba Man, Dingcun Man, Liujiang Man, Shanshan Man and so on. Some human fossils have been found together with cultural relics. In addition, there are cultural sites such as Xiaochangliang, Xujiayao, Guanyin Cave, Xiaonanhai, and Xiachuan. (Zhu Naicheng)

Paleolithic: The early stage of the Upper Stone Age in archaeology. It lasted two to three million years. At that time, human beings used stone tools and lived a life of gathering, fishing and hunting. It corresponds to the stage in human history from the emergence of primitive groups to matriarchal clan communes. The Paleolithic human fossils that have been discovered in China include Yuanmou Ape Man, Lantian Ape Man, Beijing Ape Man, Yunxian Man, Nanjing Man, Dali Man, Jinniushan Man, Maba Man, Dingcun Man, Liujiang Man, Shanshan Man and so on. Some human fossils have been found together with cultural relics. In addition, there are cultural sites such as Xiaochangliang, Xujiayao, Guanyin Cave, Xiaonanhai, and Xiachuan. (Zhu Naicheng)

Mesolithic Age: A stage in the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic. It began at the beginning of the Holocene, about 10,000 years ago. Economic life was mainly fishing, hunting and gathering, and the tools used were mainly characterized by fine stone tools, but also partially polished stone tools, and the invention of bows and arrows greatly increased the productivity of hunting. The Mesolithic transition is not widespread in all regions. China's first polar regions, such as Tibet and Qinghai, existed in the Mesolithic Age due to the late occurrence of the Neolithic Age. (Zhu Naicheng)

Neolithic periodization: The last stage of the Mesolithic period in archaeological periodization. It started eight or nine thousand years ago. The cultivation of crops was invented, livestock were gradually raised, the means of subsistence had a more reliable source, a settled life began, polished stone tools and pottery were widely used, and textiles were invented. Sixty or seventy Neolithic cultures have been found in various parts of China, such as Peiligang culture, Xinglongwa culture, Yangshao culture, Majiayao culture, Hongshan culture, Dawenkou culture, Longshan culture, Liangzhu culture, etc. (Zhu Naicheng)

The Bronze Age is an archaeological era after the Neolithic Age. It is characterized by the use of bronzes. Bronze is an alloy of red copper and tin, which has a lower melting point and higher hardness than red copper, making it easy to cast. During the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BC), China was already a highly developed Bronze Age. In the Bronze Age, the use of stone tools could not be excluded, and some areas were at the end of primitive society, and some areas had already entered civilization. China was a state established in the Bronze Age, with a fairly developed agriculture, handicraft industry, and a written language. (Zhu Naicheng)

The Bronze Age is an archaeological era after the Neolithic Age. It is characterized by the use of bronzes. Bronze is an alloy of red copper and tin, which has a lower melting point and higher hardness than red copper, making it easy to cast. During the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BC), China was already a highly developed Bronze Age. In the Bronze Age, the use of stone tools could not be excluded, and some areas were at the end of primitive society, and some areas had already entered civilization. China was a state established in the Bronze Age, with a fairly developed agriculture, handicraft industry, and a written language. (Zhu Naicheng)

The Iron Age is an archaeological era after the Bronze Age. It is characterized by the use of iron tools. Due to the wide distribution of iron ore and the high hardness and toughness of iron, the emergence of iron tools eventually excluded stone tools, promoted the increase of productivity, and led to the rapid development of society. Some areas entered civilization during the prehistoric Iron Age. The Iron Age did not exist in individual regions. In the late Spring and Autumn period (5th century BC) in China, iron tools were already used in most areas. (Zhu Naicheng)