Word: artifact (noun)

Associations

An artifact is an object made or used by humans, usually something old and important for history or culture.

• Museums often display artifacts to show how people lived in the past. For example, ancient tools or pottery.
• Archaeologists find artifacts when they dig in old places to learn about history.
• In technology, an artifact can also mean a small mistake or strange effect in images or sound, but this is less common.

A synonym is "relic," but "relic" usually means something more sacred or religious, while "artifact" is more general for any human-made object.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• relic (especially for old, sacred, or religious objects)
• antique (for old objects, often valuable or decorative)
• object or item (more general, less specific to history)

Using "relic" instead of "artifact" often adds a sense of importance or spiritual value.

Deconstruction

The word "artifact" comes from Latin:

• "arti-" from "ars," meaning "art" or "skill"
• "-fact" from "facere," meaning "to make" Together, it means "something made with skill."

Inquiry

• Can you think of an artifact you have seen in a museum or learned about?
• How do artifacts help us understand history or different cultures?
• Have you ever found or kept something that could be an artifact for your family or community?