A British archeologist is someone who studies the RUINS, shards, relics, and fossils of past civilizations. RUINS are the remains of a structure that has been destroyed or decayed over time. Shards are pieces of broken pottery or glass. Relics are objects that have survived from an earlier time. Fossils are the remains of plants or animals that have been preserved in rock or other material. All of these artifacts can provide valuable insight into the history of a culture.