In the field of archaeology, soil stratigraphy is used to better understand the processes that form and protect archaeological sites. The law of superposition (layers deposited in a time sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top) holds true, and this can help date finds or features from each context, as they can be placed in sequence and the dates interpolated.
Phases of activity can also often be seen through stratigraphy, especially when a trench or feature is viewed in section (profile). As pits and other features can be dug down into earlier levels, not all material at the same absolute depth is necessarily of the same age, but close attention has to be paid to the archeological layers.
The Harris-matrix (a diagram used to depict the relative position of underground features) is a tool to depict complex stratigraphic relations, as they are found, for example, in the contexts of urban archaeology, the material past of towns and cities where long-term human habitation has often left a rich record.
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