Harris matrix: Difference between revisions

In constructing a matrix, the latest [[Archaeological context|contexts]] sit on top of the matrix and the earliest at the bottom with the lines that link them together representing direct stratigraphic contact (though note that though all stratigraphic relationships are physical, not all physical relationships are stratigraphic). The matrix thus demonstrates the temporal relationship between any two units of archaeological [[Stratification (archeology)|stratification]]<ref>Ashmore, W., & Sharer, R. J. (2014). Page 106-107. In ''Discovering our past: A brief introduction to archaeology''. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.</ref>. While [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavating]], ''it is best practice'' to compile the area and site stratigraphic matrices during the progress of an excavation through reference to both the drawn and written record. Regular daily checking of the record and the compilation of the matrix itself both help inform the individual archaeologist on the physical processes of site formation and highlight any areas where dubious relationships such as H relationships or loops in the recorded sequence may occur. Loops are sequences in the matrix that produce temporal anomalies so that the earliest context in a sequence of context appears to be later than the latest context by virtue of errors in excavation or recording.