A stone tool, a ceramic bowl, or a discarded coin can speak about the people who made and used it. An artifact is any object modified or created by humans and recovered in an archaeological or historical context. Context—where and with what it was found—often matters as much as the object itself.

Artifacts reveal technology, trade, diet, belief, and social status. Typologies and scientific analyses place them in time and cultural sequence. Museums and laboratories conserve them against decay and display selected pieces for public education.

Not every old object qualifies; natural items unmodified by people are ecofacts or simply finds. Ethical debates surround the collection, ownership, and repatriation of artifacts, especially those removed from their original settings without consent. Careful documentation remains the foundation of their scholarly value.

• Object made or modified by humans
• Studied for technology and culture
• Context is critical to interpretation
• Subject to conservation and ethical concerns