Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Which field studies human history and prehistory through analysis of material culture?"
...Archaeology's purpose is to study how people lived in the past. It looks at artifacts, architecture, historic sites, cultural remains and monuments to learn how people interacted with the world around them. An archaeologist spends time in field investigations, analyzing artifacts and excavating historic sites. They manage the logistics at these project sites, study the findings and write reports on their conclusions. The ultimate goal is to publish their research results in academic journals, then teach what they've learned to others. Source: EnvironmentalScience.org