It can also be achieved using the template_redirect hook.

You can check for each type of archives pages, or "disable" them altogether.

• Return a 404error or redirect to another page, I prefer the 404 approach-

In functions.php :

/* Disable archives pages */
add_action('template_redirect', 'my_disable_archives_function');

function my_disable_archives_function()
{
  /* Conditional checks examples:
      is_category() 
      is_tag()
      is_date()
      is_author()
      is_tax()
      is_search() ... */

    // Return a 404 for all archive types, except the my_custom_post_type archive.
    $post_types = array('my_custom_post_type');

  if ( (is_archive() && !is_post_type_archive( $post_types )) )
  {
      global $wp_query;
      $wp_query->set_404();
  }
}

It can also be achieved using the template_redirect hook.

You can check for each type of archives pages, or "disable" them altogether.

• Return a 404error or redirect to another page, I prefer the 404 approach-

In functions.php :

/* Disable archives pages */
add_action('template_redirect', 'my_disable_archives_function');

function my_disable_archives_function()
{
  /* Conditional checks examples:
      is_category() 
      is_tag()
      is_date()
      is_author()
      is_tax()
      is_search() ... */

    // Return a 404 for all archive types, except the my_custom_post_type archive.
    $post_types = array('my_custom_post_type');

  if ( (is_archive() && !is_post_type_archive( $post_types )) )
  {
      global $wp_query;
      $wp_query->set_404();
      status_header(404);
  }
}