What is the difference between paleontology and archaeology?

Answer 1

There is a good deal of confusion about this subject even in academic circles. Archaeology is the study of remains left by societies that came before the present day. It is a specialization belonging to the field of Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human cultures, whether they be past or current.

Paleontology is the study of fossils of organisms (plant or animal) that once lived on the earth. It is a specialization belonging to the field of geology. Geology is the study of the earth's structure and mechanics.

Geography is the study of how our societies inter-relate with our environment and may incorporate the tools from all other disciplines to accomplish that goal.

So let's put it all together:

Archaeology does not deal with fossils*

Paleontology does not deal with human artifacts or remains.

Geography can use information from all sciences to best define human interactions with our environment.

.*The only occasion where archaeologists do deal with fossils is if the fossils are of animals which have been exploited by very ancient human populations. An example of this would be at the very earliest human sites in Africa, where accumulations of animal bones are found showing cut marks from stone tools.

Answer 2

There is a good deal of confusion about this subject even in academic circles. Archaeology is the study of remains left by societies that came before the present day. It is a specialization belonging to the field of anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human cultures, whether they be past or current.

Paleontology is the study of fossils of organisms (plant or animal) that once lived on the earth. It is a specialization belonging to the field of geology. Geology is the study of the earth's structure and mechanics.

Geography is the study of how our societies inter-relate with our environment and may incorporate the tools from all other disciplines to accomplish that goal.

So let's put it all together:

Archaeology does not deal with fossils*

Paleontology does not deal with human artifacts or remains.

Geography can use information from all sciences to best define human interactions with our environment.

.*The only occasion where archaeologists do deal with fossils is if the fossils are of animals which have been exploited by very ancient human populations. An example of this would be at the very earliest human sites in Africa, where accumulations of animal bones are found showing cut marks from stone tools.