Ancient History history of the distant past, from early humans to the first of the great civilizations. Archeologist an expert who studies history through artifacts people have left behind Historian an expert who studies the records of the past. Geographer an expert who studies and creates maps of Earth’s features Artifact an object made or used by people in the past Prehistoric the time period before written history. Ritual a ceremony, such as a religious ceremony : :. :. : the : a.