Principles of Archaeological StratigraphyThis book is the only text devoted entirely to archaeological stratigraphy, a subject of fundamental importance to most studies in archaeology. The first edition appeared in 1979 as a result of the invention, by the author, of the Harris Matrix--a method for analyzing and presenting the stratigraphic sequences of archaeological sites. The method is now widely used in archaeology all over the world.The opening chapters of this edition discuss the historical development of the ideas of archaeological stratigraphy. The central chapters examine the laws and basic concepts of the subject, and the last few chapters look at methods of recording stratification, constructing stratigraphic sequences, and the analysis of stratification and artifacts.The final chapter, which is followed by a glossary of stratigraphic terms, gives an outline of a modern system for recording stratification on archaeological sites. This book is written in a simple style suitable for the student or amateur. The radical ideas set out should also give the professional archaeologist food for thought. |
Contents
The concept of stratigraphy in archaeology | 7 |
Early recording methods on excavations | 22 |
Deposits as units of stratification | 40 |
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Common terms and phrases
analysis arbitrary excavation archaeological excavation archaeological plans archaeological sections archaeological sites archaeological stratification archaeological stratigraphy artefacts Barker basin of deposition baulks boundary contours cation century chalk chapter chronological complex composite plan correlation courtesy cumulative section diagram Ditch e.g. Fig Earth edition example Excavator's find-spot finds floor formation fossils geological stratigraphy gravel Harris Matrix horizontal layer interface interface of destruction interfacial features interfacial lines Iron Age Kathleen Kenyon Kenyon later Law of Original Law of Stratigraphical Law of Superposition layer numbers layers and features Lyell man-made layer multilinear stratigraphic sequence natural non-historical objects period interface permutations phases and periods Pitt-Rivers post-excavation post-excavation analysis postholes principles of archaeological residual reversed stratigraphy section drawing single-layer plan soil standing section stratigraphic data stratigraphic excavation stratigraphic record stratigraphic relationships Stratigraphical Succession stratum structural topographical trench types unconformities units of stratification upstanding layer interface upstanding strata vertical feature interface walls Wheeler