pa·le·o·an·thro·pol·o·gy 
(pā′lē-ō-ăn′thrə-pŏlə-jē)
(pā′lē-ō-ăn′thrə-pŏlə-jē)n.
The study of extinct and prehistoric hominins and their primate relatives, chiefly by examining fossils and artifacts.
pa′le·o·an′thro·po·logic (-pə-lŏjĭk), pa′le·o·an′thro·po·logi·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
pa′le·o·an′thro·polo·gist n.