by Matthew Law

Stratigraphy is the key concept that powers the science of archaeology. In essence it is the study of the layers, cuts and other contexts on an archaeological site and the order in which the events that created them took place. This chronological ordering of the site is called a stratigraphic sequence. The concept of stratigraphy derives originally from geology, where it was realised that the uppermost rock strata in an unmodified sequence were younger than those underneath them (Barker 1993: 19). By recording the stratigraphic sequence, archaeologists are able to demonstrate how a site developed through time. It also allows a sequence for dating the finds, such as pottery or metalwork, retrieved from the different layers. Even though the archaeologist may not know an exact date for the artefacts, they will be able to tell which types are earlier relative to other types from the same site by the layer's position in the stratigraphic sequence. 

Reference:

Barker, P., 1993: Techniques of Archaeological Excavation. Third Edition (London: Routledge) 

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