Material culture is the physical evidence of a
culture in the objects and architecture they make, or have made. The term tends to be relevant only in archeological and anthropological studies, but it specifically means all material evidence which can be attributed to culture, past or present.
Material culture studies is an
interdisciplinary field telling of relationships between people and their things: the making, history, preservation, and interpretation of objects. It draws on theory and practice from the
social sciences and
humanities such as
art history,
archaeology,
anthropology,
history,
historic preservation,
folklore,
literary criticism and
museum studies, among others. Anything from buildings and architectural elements to books, jewelry, or toothbrushes can be considered material culture.