What aspect of historical study does an archaeologist focus on?

An archaeologist primarily concentrates on physical artifacts, which are tangible objects left behind by past civilizations. These artifacts can include tools, pottery, structures, and other items that provide insights into the daily lives, social structures, and cultures of people who lived in a particular area.

By examining and interpreting these artifacts, archaeologists can reconstruct historical contexts and understand cultural changes over time without relying solely on written documents. This focus allows for a more comprehensive view of history, especially in societies that may not have left behind written records. Understanding the physical remnants of human activity is crucial for piecing together how societies functioned, interacted, and evolved throughout time.

The other options, while important aspects of historical study in their own right, do not reflect the primary focus of archaeology. For instance, written documents pertain more to historians and textual analysis, cultural traditions relate closely to anthropology and can be studied through various methodologies, and modern technologies can aid in archaeological discoveries or analyses but are not the primary focus of the field itself.