1. Stratigraphy Understanding site deposits. Reading the Layers

2. Layer upon layer… Stratigraphy represents the depositional history of a site. Key ideas: Site depth When do cultural deposits begin or stop as we dig down? Site integrity Has the site been disturbed and by what?

3. What it reveals… Site history Environmental changes Human behaviors Culturally sterile: without evidence of human activity

5. Concept review Principle of superposition Age of each layer/order of each layer Principle of association Artifacts and strata deposited together Provenience and context Where on the site a feature is located or from where an artifact came.

6. Basic shovel test

7. Dry screening.

8. 1x2 test unit.

9. Unit sidewall (west)

11. Isometric view (adjacent sides shown)

12. Ceramic pot in situ

13. Artifacts left in position for photography.

14. Rocker screen.

15. Elements to note Soil composition Soil colors Strata boundaries Moisture Strata lenses Artifact content Compaction Boundary zones

17. Multiple strata revealed in cave site.

18. Back hoe trench.

19. Most excavation is conducted by arbitrary levels of 10 or 20 cm.

20. Illustrating stratigraphy

21. Tags indicate both arbitrary 10 cm levels and natural stratigraphy.

22. Strive for clarity and simplicity in graphic representation. It is not necessary or desirable to illustrate every pebble, rock, or root. Usually best to include a key rather than jumble the drawing with superimposed text.

23. With grid sheets

24. Completed complex site profile.

25. Field notes The side walls provide the data. Take note of characteristics. Use a Munsell soil color guide.

27. Composition terms Granular Organic Clay-like Sandy Dry/wet Acidic/basic

28. Boundaries

29. Results from skim shoveling by natural levels.

30. Confusion Site formation processes = taphonomy Human disturbances: Quarry/mining, storage pits, borrow pits, purposeful restructuring Bioturbation Worms, crabs, gophers, tree roots, Environmental flooding, land subsidence, etc

31. Road cut inadvertently exposes ancient settlement evidence.

32. Artificial mound

35. Special cases Shipwreck The wrecking episode will dramatically affect site formation. Slow deterioration or rapid destruction? Environmental conditions will impact deposition and site preservation

36. The “classic” Disney concept of shipwrecks. Shipwrecks and underwater archeology will be discussed later in the term.

37. Roman shipwreck shown after complete clearing.

38. Intro to Sampling methods (each has statistical merits and drawbacks) Random Systematic Stratified Combined (ex: stratified random)

39. Systematic Along a grid at specified intervals

40. Random Using a grid but at non-systematic intervals.

41. Stratified Systematic or random but the sample is weighted to provide coverage in particular zones.

43. Exercise Part 1 Simulated stratigraphic analysis Partners for analysis. Determining order of layers. Asking critical questions about variations. Interpreting deposits sequentially.

44. Part II Hypotheses formation concerning site history. Developing supporting arguments for conclusions.

45. Part III Illustrating a stratigraphic profile. Using mock profile Using Munsell color guide

46. Remember Layers should be described from the bottom up (oldest to newest). Both human and natural activity at a site should be described whenever possible.

47. Final products for grading Written site description and analysis; making a case for your interpretation and generating at least one testable hypotheses. Stratigraphy model illustration using appropriate scale.