ar·ti·fact (chiefly US) or chiefly Brit ar·te·fact 
/ˈɑɚtɪˌfækt/ noun
plural ar·ti·facts /ˈɑɚtɪˌfækt/ noun [count] 1 : a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past
▪ The caves contained many prehistoric artifacts. ▪ an artifact from the Colonial period 2 : an accidental effect that causes incorrect results — usually + of ▪ The drop in scores was merely an artifact of the way the test was administered.
▪ The caves contained many prehistoric artifacts. ▪ an artifact from the Colonial period
