Stratigraphy is the study of layered materials (strata) that were deposited over time. By digging from the top downward, the archaeologist can trace the buildings and objects on a site back through time using techniques of typology (i.e., the study of how types change in time).

What is stratigraphy in anthropology?

Stratigraphy refers to layers of sediment, debris, rock, and other materials that form or accumulate as the result of natural processes, human activity, or both. An individual layer is called a stratum; multiple layers are called strata.