# Tags #WickedProblems #Archaeology #Material_Culture #Heritage --- ### Key ideas >[! Question] >What is Archaeology? >[! Quote] >"A subject invested in understanding past human behaviours and therefore also ourselves, as people, as humanity. often through the material traces which humans have left behind; but also the associated field of heritage studies whereby researchers and practitioners focus on the recognition, documentation, protection and presentation of, amongst other things, archaeological sites as part of a wider and holistic historic environment" (Schofield 2024; 4). I like the above quote but it does miss a important characteristic about archaeology and that is *process*. I argue that archaeology is a set of process (methodologies, theories) that allow us to explore and study material remains in order to understand human behaviours and humanity. these process inform the practice of heritage studies. >[! warning] Addendum >After re-reading Schofield, the author does focus on the process of archaeology. It is process - the participation in archaeology - that has the capacity to improve human lives. See related links! --- ### Citation Schofield, John. (2024) *Wicked Problems for Archaeologists: Heritage as Transformative Practice.* Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. --- ### Related Links [[Archaeological Process]]