How does archaeology primarily differ from cultural anthropology?

Archaeology primarily differs from cultural anthropology in that archaeology studies past human societies primarily through the examination of material remains such as artifacts, structures, and other physical evidence left behind. This approach allows archaeologists to reconstruct the lifestyles, cultures, and social structures of ancient peoples who no longer exist.

In contrast, cultural anthropology focuses on living cultures and the behaviors, beliefs, and customs of contemporary human societies. Cultural anthropologists often engage in participant observation and ethnographic research to understand social dynamics within modern communities, emphasizing the interpretation of culture in real-time settings rather than the analysis of historical remnants. This fundamental distinction highlights the temporal focus of each field—archaeology looks backward into the past while cultural anthropology is concerned with the present and how cultures evolve over time.

The other options present various misconceptions about the scope of archaeology and cultural anthropology, mixing up their methodologies or focusing on aspects that do not adequately represent their core differences.