What does archaeology study?

Archaeology primarily focuses on understanding past human societies by examining material remains, such as artifacts, structures, and other physical evidence left behind by those societies. This approach allows archaeologists to reconstruct historical contexts, social structures, and cultural practices of people who lived in different eras. By analyzing tools, pottery, remains of buildings, and even environmental data, archaeology sheds light on the lives of people from various time periods.

The other options suggest areas of study that are not the primary focus of archaeology. For instance, contemporary societies and modern cultural practices are more aligned with disciplines like anthropology or sociology, which analyze current human behavior and societal norms. The biological evolution of humans, on the other hand, is the domain of physical anthropology, which investigates the biological and evolutionary aspects of human beings rather than their material cultural legacies. Thus, the choice that emphasizes the examination of past societies through their material culture is the most accurate representation of what archaeology studies.