A Little Handbook of Stratigraphic Exercises

Contents

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 

About the Author

Adonice-Ackad Baaklini gained his PhD in Near Eastern Archaeology from the Sorbonne (2019), and has extensive experience in commercial and rescue archaeology. He has worked for several companies and institutions as a professional archaeologist, eventually reaching the positions of field director, scientific coordinator, and principal investigator. His responsibilities have included the training of young field archaeologists, including matrix composition.