The term for the scientific study of human evolution is called paleoanthropology. This interdisciplinary field combines aspects of anthropology, archaeology, and paleontology to investigate the origins and development of Homo sapiens and our ancestors. Researchers study fossil records, archaeological artifacts, genetic data, and biological evolution to understand how early humans adapted to their environments and the evolutionary trends over millions of years. Insights gained from paleoanthropology help explain the physical and behavioral characteristics of modern humans and our relationship to other primates.