Archaeology is the scientific study of the unwritten record of the human past. This record consists of artifacts, human remains, garbage, ruins, and archaeological sites and landscapes spanning the past three million years. Studying the prehistoric and historic human past through archaeology provides the foundation for understanding and celebrating our culturally and biologically diverse species.

Archaeologists also manage and protect archeological resources by working in state and national parks or at historic sites. Most archaeologists in the U.S. are employed in cultural resource management to ensure the preservation of archaeological evidence under threat by modern development and land use. Appalachian?s archaeology program stands out as the one in North Carolina that trains students for cultural resource management.