palaetiology
/pəˌliːtɪˈɒlədʒi/(also paletiology) Now historical
noun
W. Whewell's name for: the application of existing principles of cause and effect to the explanation of past phenomena.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Whewell (1794–1866), college head and writer on the history and philosophy of science. From pal- + aetiology, after palaeontology.