artefact
/ˈɑrtɪˌfækt/
noun
- An object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest.
- This stone artefact is over 5,000 years old and was used for grinding grain.
- Archaeologists discovered a bronze artefact buried near the old temple.
- The museum displayed ancient artefacts from Egypt, including pottery and jewelry.
- Something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the investigative procedure.
- The blur in the photograph was an artefact of the old camera lens.
- The strange pattern on the MRI scan turned out to be an artefact caused by the patient's movement.
- Scientists must be careful to distinguish real data from artefacts in their measurements.