Archaeological context

Archaeological context is the spatial and stratigraphic relationship of an object or feature to its surroundings. These relationships help establish how it was used, deposited, and connected to other evidence.

Stratigraphy: The study and interpretation of layered deposits and their sequence of formation. Layer order establishes which deposits and finds came before or after others.
Archaeological excavation: The controlled removal and documentation of archaeological deposits and features. Excavation exposes contexts while progressively destroying their physical arrangement.
Archaeological provenience analysis: The study of an artifact's source or find location to understand its movement and distribution. Spatial and geological evidence can trace objects beyond their find spot.
Secondary deposition: The redeposition of material away from the place where it was originally discarded or used. Redeployed material no longer directly represents activity at its final location.
Provenience: The documented three-dimensional location where an archaeological object or sample was found. Precise coordinates preserve an object's spatial position within its archaeological setting.
Harris matrix: A diagram that represents stratigraphic relationships among archaeological contexts. It turns observed layer relationships into an explicit sequence.
Artifact distribution: The spatial pattern of artifacts across an archaeological site or landscape. Distribution patterns can reveal activity areas, movement, and site formation.
Residuality (archaeology): The presence of older archaeological material in a later deposit. Residual finds can predate the context that contains them.
Association (archaeology): A spatial or depositional relationship between archaeological materials that suggests they belong to the same activity or event. Associated finds can illuminate an object's relationship to nearby materials.
Single-context recording: An excavation and recording method that documents each stratigraphic unit as an individual context. Separate records preserve the identity and relationships of deposits and cuts.

Linked from 42 pages