What's a word for a person who loves old or ancient things?

I am looking for a word to contrast with neophile. Just as a neophile loves novelty for the sake of it, I want to describe a person who loves old or ancient things (may include the abstract, e.g. tradition or bygone mannerisms).

A neophobe is ruled out, since that is merely a rejection of newness. Antiquarian comes to mind, but that seems to be specifically for human history (its objects and trivia). The word I'm after could refer to someone who loves fossils or ancient rocks (of which there are many. . .).

So, what word describes a person who loves an object or concept on account of its age? Perhaps archaeophile or paleophile?

Solution 1:

In normal usage, I think the word is "traditionalist".

"Paleophile" would be a better word but I don't find it in any dictionary: it's not an accepted word.

• Very late addition and clarification *

If there is no well-known word that expresses an idea you want, you can, of course, always make up a word or use a word that somebody else made up and that only 10 people in the world know. But then you can't expect your readers to know what it means. You'd have to define it. Don't make up a word or use an obscure word with no explanation.

If you would only use this word once or twice, I'd say, in general, don't. Just use a phrase to explain what you mean. If you need to use the word many times so that using the same phrase over and over would be awkward, then sure, invent a new word, define it, and then use it.

Like, "These people are what I will call 'paleophiles', by which I mean, people who love old or ancient things. Paleophiles often ..." etc.

Solution 2:

There's retrophiliac who is "someone who has a strong liking for things from the past". I'm not sure if "ancient" is retro enough or if it's limited to the material ... But there you go.

Nostalgia is also a possibility if the period in question isn't as expansive.

Solution 3:

I like the rare and probably recently made-up "archaiphile."