Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy ‘is the study of archaeological strata the strata or layers are sediments incorporated in beds. This can include artefacts of interests to the archaeologist. The virtual sides will show different periods in time by the strata that are built up over a number of years caused by rotting organic vegetation. the contents of the lower strata are indeed usually older than those of the upper strata, but the archaeologist must not simply assume this.

The reason that we must not assume this is older strata may become intermix with younger strata in the soil. This can be caused by burrowing animals like rabbits, earthworms, badgers, moles, roots of plants and trees have the same effect as do the burrowing animals. Strata can only provide so much evidence of human activity but we need to look at artefacts that humans made for use as Cmuch archaeological research has to do with the analysis of artefacts and these organic and environmental remains that are found together.

Archaeologist also rely on context like human actives that archaeologist will look at the context which can be artefacts (finds), organic remains and the structure to build up a much fuller picture of human actives and behaviour. The picture is of a post I will explain how the archaeology can relate to the strata and the artefacts that remain. The datable evidence we can say that the post was not put in no earlier that 1520 due to the date of the coin. The pottery context date to 1300 this informs us that the site had been earlier occupied. The strata consist of back fill a mixture of soil and sub soil to when the post was set. We also have a second coin date to 1600 this was the end of human occupation on the site. This shows how we can tell from just the artefact and the strata of dates of occupation.

When we begin to write a report this will include the strata and structures along with dating evidence to which we have recovered from the strata. When the archaeologists want to go, down on to the next strata the first strata is accurately recorded along with scales plans and photographs. This process also applies to the vertical sections and for each horizontally exposed strata. Horizontal will reveal as it was at the given time. We can use this approach on settlements and rubbish pits. Archaeologist have favoured the vertical approach which shows the changes of each strata of change within the site and how they relate to one period by the stratigraphy of the various vertical strata. The Both Vertical and Horizontal will be actually record so the data is not lost.

The recording of the site is extremely important. This is why we keep a very detail recordings of sites so future archaeologists can investigate the site at a later date as excavations should prepare detail reports and make them available to other archaeologist without such recordings they would be no point in trying to explain the archaeology and it would have also been a waste of time

These resources are maintained by and © Webmaster of these pages No part of any of this text or pictures must be copied without consent All Rights Reserved. All information published on this site is corrected and was working when the site was launched by its owners