Anthropology, ethnology and archaeology are clearly distinguishable sciences, but they are often confused by laymen because the investigations of scholars in these fields are largely concerned with ancient or primitive races.
Anthropology is a general term covering many sciences which deal with the physical and cultural evolution of the human species from prehistoric times to the present.
One branch of anthropology is ethnology, which is concerned with the origin, development, geographical distribution, and distinguishing character of the human races and often includes comparative cultural studies of existent peoples.
Archaeology forms a link between history and anthropology. Its province is the investigation of prehistoric and ancient cultures and civilizations and a study of their material remains (as artifacts, monuments, and traces of agriculture).