Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (694 page)

See
HARRIS MATRIX
.

 
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A series of deposits that can be arranged in depositional order using the principles of
STRATIGRAPHY
.

 
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The study of the formation, composition, sequence, and deposits or formations. Stratigraphy provides the basic rules by which the context and relationships of archaeological materials are constructed and events put in sequence. The basic rules include the following.
Principle of superimposition
: layers or strata are overlain or buried by progressively younger deposits so that the oldest deposits are the deepest while the youngest are nearest the surface. This layering of soils one above another allows archaeologists to trace the development of a site and to place a range of archaeological remains (e.g. artefacts) within the layers into a time sequence. Natural erosion or man-made intrusion may interrupt this process, of course, and it should not be assumed that successive layers of approximately equal depth need correspond to equal periods of time, since varying intensities of building activity, flooding, etc., may result in quite different depths of debris.
Principle of intercutting
: a feature or deposit that cuts across or into an existing layer of strata must be more recent.
Principle of incorporation
: all material or debris contained within a layer or deposit must be the same age or older than the formation of the deposit. While it is possible that material from an older deposit can be incorporated in a younger deposit the opposite cannot be true.
Principle of correlation
: parallels may be drawn between deposits of the same character, containing the same range of materials, and occupying comparable stratigraphic positions within related sequences.

 
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A single deposit or cultural level.

 
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An archaeological object found by chance and with little or no associated archaeological context.

 
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Regular pattern of streets crossing at right angles.

 
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