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History vocabulary · Archaeology Basics

Stratigraphy

Meaning in history, with examples

/strəˈtɪɡrəfi/nounAdvanced term

In history, stratigraphy means: The 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.

In Turkish: stratigrafi, tabakalanma

How it is used

Archaeologists record the stratigraphy of a trench in section drawings and use it to build a relative chronology. Each layer is a stratum (plural strata) or context. Pits, burrows and later building work can mix the layers.

Example sentences

  1. The stratigraphy shows at least nine building phases on the mound.

  2. Without clear stratigraphy, the coins are difficult to date.

Common collocations

  • site stratigraphy
  • stratigraphic sequence
  • stratigraphic evidence
  • record the stratigraphy
  • excavationThe careful digging and recording of an archaeological site to uncover buildings, objects and other remains in the order in which they were buried.
  • radiocarbon datingA scientific method that estimates the age of organic material such as wood, bone or seeds by measuring how much radioactive carbon-14 is left in it.
  • chronologyThe order in which events happened, or a list or table that sets out events and their dates in that order.
  • archaeological siteA place where evidence of past human activity has been found or preserved, such as the remains of a settlement, cemetery, temple or workshop.

More terms: Archaeology Basics

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