Archaeology is the study of the history of civilizations through the recovery, examination, documentation and analysis of material evidence. Xenoarchaeology is archaeology focusing on alien worlds and civilizations. Individuals who study archaeology are known as archaeologists.
History and specifics[]
Archaeology is typically carried out by a slow and painstaking process of uncovering and examining artifacts and other remains of former settlement sites. Because of this, much of the examination and analysis is done on site. Expeditions to such sites can vary in terms of team size and amount of time dedicated to recovery.
A 5,000-year-old pyramid on Abaris was discovered in 2270 by archeologists Elsa Hoff and Paul Hoff. They spent three years exploring it, learning the culture of its builders and translating its hieroglyphs with the aid of a Rosetta Stone-like tablet. (TOS comic: "Aberration on Abaris")
In 2368, Dr. Marjorie Devarona led a small team to Rajatha Prime, to a near pristine site previously undiscovered due to the planet's ionosphere obscuring sensor scans. Amongst the ruins of the Rajathan civilization the team discovered a collection of Harmonic diamonds. Unfortunately these valuable stones stimulated primitive emotions in the teams brains causing them to kill each other in jealous rage. Only two of the team survived, per Dr. Devarona's final request the gems were used to fund further expeditions across the quadrant. (TNG - The Space Between comic: "Captain's Pleasure")
In c.2372 Istani Reyla travelled to Beta Kupsic to participate in an archaeological dig.
The ancient city of B'hala was a major archaeological site on Bajor. The operation was organized by the Order of the Temple and consisted mostly of Bajoran archaeologists, however a few offworlders were also involved, including the Human Jake Sisko and a group of Vulcan chronologists. (DS9 - Avatar novel: Book One)
Archaeologists[]
- Marla Aster
- Robert Crater
- Marjorie Devarona
- Richard Galen
- Gest
- Elsa Hoff
- Paul Hoff
- Hoyle
- O'Hara
- Istani Reyla
- Kob
- Jean-Luc Picard
- Vash
External links[]
- Archaeology article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Archaeologist article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Archaeology article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.