What type of archaeologist focuses on civilizations that lacked written records?

The type of archaeologist who focuses on civilizations that lacked written records is a prehistoric archaeologist. This branch of archaeology studies human cultures from the time before written language was developed, utilizing material remains such as tools, pottery, and other artifacts to reconstruct past societies and their ways of life. By examining these tangible items, prehistoric archaeologists can gather insights about social structures, subsistence practices, and cultural developments of ancient communities.

In contrast, a historical archaeologist typically investigates more recent periods where written records are available, providing a layer of context that prehistoric archaeologists do not have. Classical archaeologists generally focus on ancient civilizations that did produce written records, often emphasizing cultures such as the Greeks and Romans. Site archaeologists concentrate on specific locations to analyze artifacts and features, but their work does not specifically target the absence of writing in the civilizations studied. Thus, prehistoric archaeology is uniquely suited to exploring and interpreting the lives and practices of societies that existed before the advent of written communication.