Archaeology is the scientific study of the past through material evidence that people leave behind.
Archaeologists attempt to reconstruct the past and understand why different how past cultures developed, lived, and died. Environmental Archaeologists study the relationship of past cultures and communities with the environment. By learning about the ecological processes that took place in the past, we can apply many lessons to our interactions with nature today. Archaeology majors can expect an emphasis on history, field investigations, scientific analysis and interpretation of artifacts, as well as specialized computer programs. At the undergraduate level, there is little specialization, but most graduate schools require students to declare specific field of interest.