Archaeology Term: Profile
A profile, or cross-section, in archaeology is the exposed view of an excavation’s walls, offering a vertical snapshot of soil layers, features, and artifacts in their stratigraphic context.
This visual representation allows archaeologists to observe changes in soil composition, sedimentation, and human activity over time within the site.
By examining a profile, archaeologists can interpret the chronological sequence of events at a site, helping to identify the relationships between different layers. Each layer, or stratum, represents a different phase, allowing researchers to track how the site evolved, whether through natural deposition or human influence.
Profiles are crucial for understanding the formation processes of archaeological sites and help clarify whether certain layers resulted from gradual accumulation, rapid events, or human interventions. For example, a profile may reveal distinct bands of ash or charcoal, which could indicate ancient fires or cultural activities like cooking and heating.
Through profiles, archaeologists identify changes in site use, such as periods of construction, abandonment, or environmental shifts. Profiles can also reveal evidence of disturbances, like burials or pits, that disrupt the stratigraphy, providing insight into specific activities or events that altered the landscape.
Recording profiles carefully is essential for preserving the information they hold, as profiles are only visible while the excavation is open. Documentation usually involves drawing, photographing, and sometimes even creating digital models, so future researchers can analyze the site’s stratigraphy.
Profiles are valuable in both large-scale excavations and small test pits, as they offer a condensed, vertical view of the site’s development. In areas where stratigraphy is complex, profiles help researchers distinguish between natural and cultural deposits, adding precision to interpretations of the site’s history.
A profile’s exposed layers may also reveal soil features such as erosion, flooding, or sediment deposition, helping archaeologists reconstruct ancient environmental conditions. These insights support broader research goals, like understanding the climatic and ecological changes that influenced past human societies.
Profiles provide a direct view of the stratigraphic relationships that guide relative dating methods, enabling more accurate dating of artifacts or features based on their depth. By examining the profile, researchers can assess the integrity of the site and the preservation of its primary context.
In summary, profiles are essential tools in archaeological excavations, revealing the complex sequence of human and environmental interactions recorded within a site. These cross-sections allow archaeologists to interpret both the cultural and natural history embedded in the soil, helping reconstruct the lifeways of past societies.
