It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the nameless medieval scribes who copied ancient texts and made sure they survived. However, these unsung heroes were only human. They made mistakes and copied only texts they believed to be useful. Fortunately, archaeologists frequently find original, ancient texts. Even though they are often damaged, they offer useful information.
Those who study the civilizations of the ancient world have access to several types of information. For example, classicists and other philologists study written texts, while archaeologists are interested in material remains. Although philology and archaeology are taught in separate university departments, they have much in
