From Latin 'arte factum' (made by skill) — 'ars' (craft) + 'factum' (made), a 19th-century coinage that became essential to archaeology.
An object made or shaped by human workmanship, especially one of historical or archaeological interest; an unintended product of a process.
From Italian 'artefatto' or directly from Latin 'arte factum' (something made with skill), a phrase combining 'arte,' ablative of 'ars' (skill, craft, art), and 'factum,' past participle of 'facere' (to make, to do). Latin 'ars' derives from PIE *h₂er- (to fit together, to join), the same root behind 'arm,' 'harmony,' and 'order' — art, at its etymological core, is the fitting-together of parts. Latin 'facere' descends from PIE *dʰeh₁- (to put, to place, to make), one of the most productive roots in the family, yielding Greek τίθημι (títhēmi, I place), Sanskrit
The spelling 'artifact' (with an 'i') is standard in American English, while 'artefact' (with an 'e') is preferred in British English. The American spelling reflects the Latin 'ars, artis' more directly, while the British spelling follows the Italian and French form 'artefatto/artefact' — a rare case where American English is arguably closer to the Latin original.