Archaeologists think in terms of artifacts and features. They can be classified into types. These types reflect function or use, styles from a particular time period, or specific groups of people. The artifact above was made by a prehistoric culture we recognize as the Moche of Peru.
Features are objects that are either made or used by humans that are nonportable.
Houses, pits, hearths, or irrigation canals are examples of features. The picture above is a prehistoric house from Tempe, Arizona. It was made by erecting posts around the exterior and building a roof over the house supported by a series of interior posts. The house is a feature.