Little Handbook of Stratigraphic Exercises

This handbook introduces stratigraphy and the stratigraphic matrix, offering theory followed by graded exercises that teach readers to build matrices from archaeological sections. With solutions and explanations, it serves as an accessible, practical guide for archaeology students and field professionals.

This handbook focuses on stratigraphy and the stratigraphic matrix, which are key tools in field archaeology to determine the chronology of any site. After a discussion of the theoretical background, the reader will find exercises – ranked in order of difficulty – helping them to master the concept of stratigraphy. The exercises consist in building the stratigraphic matrix of given archaeological sections that represent the main configurations an archaeologist might encounter in the field. The exercises are followed by their solutions and detailed comments. Easy to use and accessible to a large audience, this book is an indispensable companion to every student in archaeology, as well as professionals in field archaeology, whether they are beginning in their job or looking to improve their skills.

List of Figures

Foreword

How to use this book

Chapter 1. Introduction

1. What is archaeological stratigraphy?

2. The rules of stratigraphy

3. Stratigraphic units (SU)

4. Analysing and presenting stratigraphy: the matrix

5. References

6. Selected bibliography (in chronological order, by most recent)

Chapter 2. Exercises

Exercise 1: Simple succession of layers

Exercise 2: Simple succession of layers 2

Exercise 3: Large pit

Exercise 4: Large pit 2

Exercise 5: Posthole

Exercise 6: Postholes

Exercise 7: Foundation wall and wall with backfill on one side

Exercise 8: Foundation wall and wall with backfill on either side

Exercise 9: ‘Trench build’ foundation wall and wall

Exercise 10: Collapsed wall

Exercise 11: Canalisation

Exercise 12: Arabian-style earth architecture

Exercise 13: Mesopotamian-style architecture

Exercise 14: Prehistoric settlement

Exercise 15: Multi-period site

Exercise 16: Traditional houses: reuse and conservation

Exercise 17: North American pit house

Exercise 18: Artisanal area

Exercise 19: Pottery kiln

Exercise 20: Mediterranean mountainous site

Exercise 21: Prior unsupervised interventions at an archaeological site

Exercise 22: Anglo-Saxon building

Exercise 23: Multi-period rural site

Exercise 24: Industrial archaeology

Exercise 25: Building archaeology

Chapter 3. Explanations and comments on the exercises

Exercise 1 (explanation): Simple succession of layers

Exercise 2 (explanation): Simple succession of layers 2

Exercise 3 (explanation): Large pit

Exercise 4 (explanation): Large pit 2

Exercise 5 (explanation): Posthole

Exercise 6 (explanation): Postholes

Exercise 7 (explanation): Foundation wall and wall with backfill on one side

Exercise 8 (explanation): Foundation wall and wall with backfill on two sides

Exercise 9 (explanation): ‘Trench build’ foundation wall and wall

Exercise 10 (explanation): Collapsed wall

Exercise 11 (explanation): Canalisation

Exercise 12 (explanation): Arabian-style earth architecture

Exercise 13 (explanation): Mesopotamian-style architecture

Exercise 14 (explanation): Prehistoric settlement

Exercise 15 (explanation): Multi-period site

Exercise 16 (explanation): Traditional houses: reuse and conservation

Exercise 17 (explanation): North American pit house

Exercise 18 (explanation): Artisanal quarter

Exercise 19 (explanation): Pottery kiln

Exercise 20 (explanation): Mediterranean mountainous site

Exercise 21 (explanation): Prior unsupervised interventions at an archaeological site

Exercise 22 (explanation): Anglo-Saxon building

Exercise 23 (explanation): Multi-period rural site

Exercise 24 (explanation): Industrial archaeology

Exercise 25 (explanation): Building archaeology 

• By (author) Adonice-Ackad Baaklini