What the name of a scientist who studies prehistoric life?

The definition of 'pre-historic' assumes that the period was before written records. Obviously easily satisfied for the fossil collectors.

Archaeology concerns itself with the early history of mankind (and other life forms) and attention is usually paid to settlement regions, middens and waste sites, early tool forms and so on. So a knowledge of the food species (botany and zoology) and some knowledge of tool working techniques. e.g. How did they make that ochre paint for the walls.

Recent work in the Pacific in studying the common root of (non-written) languages has helped identify the migration patterns throughout that region.