An Introduction to Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy is a branch of Geology and the Earth Sciences that deals with the arrangement and
succession of strata, or layers, as well as the origin, composition and distribution of these geological
strata

The study of archaeological and natural stratification therefore involves the assessment of TIME and
SPACE
TIME SPACE

The earliest geological time scales simply used the

order of rocks laid down in a sedimentary rock sequence Rock strata are horizontal layers of sedimentary rock,
(stratum) with the oldest at the bottom which are usually visually distinguishable from
adjacent layers due to their differing composition.
Each individual stratum represents a period of
geological time when the sedimentary layer formed
• Law of Superposition: geological layers, or
strata, are overlain by progressively younger
layers. Older layers at the bottom and
younger layers at the top.
• Cross-cutting: a feature (e.g. pit, river
channel) cutting into a layer must be younger
than that layer.
• Inclusions: material from an older layer can
be reworked into a younger layer, or vice
versa.
• Correlation of biological material: layers may
be correlated based on the presence of a
diagnostic (unique) biological assemblage
Stratigraphic schemes

Archaeo-stratigraphy (typological sequence)

Artefacts of a specific time period or geographic area have a characteristic style, and this can provide
information about the relative age and provenance of the artefact. For example, the shape, size and other
characteristics of projectile points in North America followed a sequence of change that correlates tightly
with chronology and spatial distribution

• Litho-stratigraphy (sedimentological characteristics)

In geoarchaeological research, lithostratigraphy is the most important aspect of the stratigraphic

sequence, as it provides information about the depositional environment.

• Bio-stratigraphy (e.g. pollen, vertebrate fauna)

Biostratigraphy uses the biological materials contained within the sedimentary deposit to assess
relative age and to correlate different layers. This is useful for a number of reasons, not least
because lithological units are often indistinguishable in the field (e.g. successive bands of
sandstone, chalk, etc.).
 Four Kinds of Unconformity
➢ What is unconformity according your Opinion?

According to the definition select the type of conformity: and select the picture

Angular Unconformity Paraconformity

Nonconformity Disconformity

The contact between older and younger is noted by apparent

Younger sediments lies upon a weathered surface of folded or slanted older rocks
Comparatively Young sediments accomulated right over igneus or metamorphic
A paraconformity is a type of unconformity in which the sedimentary layers above and below the
unconformity are parallel, but there is no obvious erosional break between them

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