What Does Stratification Mean?

Stratification is defined as the process of dividing anything into groups or strata. It refers to the act of forming different layers. It is a term quite frequently used in archaeology and geology. It is a very important and significant concept in archaeology. It is based on the Law of Superposition. This law works on the supposition that when layers are arranged in a time sequence then the oldest layer would be at the bottom and the youngest one would be placed at the top.

In archaeology, experts try to determine the period or phase when the archaeological finds or artefacts discovered from the excavation site belonged to. Thus stratification is very vital to an archaeologist and his study. Thus with the help of this process an archaeologists try to find out the precise contexts of the artefacts and the causes of why it came to be there.