An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. An object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest.
   

2. Something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure (OxfordDictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From It. artefatto, from L. arte “by skill” (ablative of ars “→ art”) + factum “thing made,” from facere “to make, do,” → -fy.

Etymology (PE): Dasâc “hand made,” from das variant of dast, → hand, + sâc, variant of sâz-, sâxtan, → agree.