What can it tell us?
Stratigraphy is vital for dating in archaeology. By understanding the
sequence of layers archaeologists can work out the order in which things
happened on the site. A datable find such as pottery can give a date to a
whole layer. For example, a piece of pottery found under a floor can help
us work out when the floor was laid.
Stratification in London
Most digs take place on urban sites where people have been putting up and
pulling down buildings, digging pits and dumping rubbish over hundreds of
years. The Roman ground level can be up to 7 metres below that of today.
Later activity often cuts through the levels below.
Making sense of stratification
Archaeologists sort out the relationship between different layers by
drawing a 'matrix'. This is like a family tree showing how the layers of
evidence fit together. This can be difficult to understand, but computers
make it easier and also allow archaeologists to compare strata across
different sites.
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