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History vocabulary · Archaeology Basics

Harris matrix

Meaning in history, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In history, Harris matrix means: A diagram representing the relative sequence of archaeological contexts through their stratigraphic relationships.

In Turkish: Harris matrisi

How it is used

It records relationships such as earlier and later; it is not a drawing of physical layer thickness.

Example sentences

  1. The Harris matrix placed the pit after the floor that it cut.

    The diagram expresses a sequence inferred from a physical relationship.

  2. An isolated wall remained unconnected in the Harris matrix.

    Uncertain relationships should not be replaced by invented links.

Common collocations

  • construct a Harris matrix
  • stratigraphic Harris matrix
  • stratigraphyThe study of the layers of soil and debris at a site, based on the principle that lower layers were usually laid down before the ones above them.
  • excavationThe careful digging and recording of an archaeological site to uncover buildings, objects and other remains in the order in which they were buried.

More terms: Archaeology Basics

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