Final answer:
An artifact is a material object that has been made or altered by humans, encompassing a wide range of items from simple tools to complex technological devices. It includes objects created for practical purposes as well as those with aesthetic value, and is part of the broader term 'material culture', which also features social and cultural elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
A material object that shows signs of having been made or altered by humans is called an artifact. This term applies to a broad range of objects, from the simple tools created by early human ancestors to modern technological devices such as smartphones and computers. An artifact can include anything from a crudely fashioned stone blade to a complex piece of electronics, as long as it was produced or modified by human effort.
Artifacts encompass both utilitarian objects, like a plastic spoon designed for a specific function without aesthetic considerations, and objects of art, where both function and beauty are integral to the design, such as a decorative silver spoon. Additionally, the term material culture refers to material objects made and used by humans within social contexts. This includes both tangible products like tools, clothing, and art, as well as intangible elements of culture like technology, religion, or political systems.