A prehistorian is a specialist who studies the period of time before written history. Synonyms for prehistorian include archaeologist, paleontologist, anthropologist, geologist, and historian. An archaeologist studies human history by examining artifacts, fossils, and other physical remains. A paleontologist, on the other hand, focuses on the study of ancient life forms and their fossilized remains. Anthropologists study human societies and cultures from a holistic perspective, while geologists examine the earth's physical and geological history. Finally, historians focus on the study of written records and texts to document past events. These terms are all used interchangeably to describe those who study or specialize in prehistoric times.