What is the primary focus of stratigraphy in archaeology?

Stratigraphy in archaeology primarily focuses on the study of deposition and relationships of strata. This discipline involves examining the layered deposits of soil, sediment, and artifacts that accumulate over time in a given location. By analyzing these layers, archaeologists can determine the chronological sequence of events and understand how different layers relate to each other. Each layer, or stratum, represents a specific period in time and can provide vital information about the environmental conditions, human activities, and cultural changes that occurred throughout history.

This approach is essential for establishing a timeline of human activity and understanding the context of artifacts and features found within different layers. Such contextual information allows archaeologists to draw conclusions about past societies, their development, and their interactions with their environment. Stratigraphy provides a framework for interpreting the archaeological record and is fundamental to constructing a narrative of the past.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of archaeology, such as textual analysis, organic remains, or large structures, which do not directly pertain to the stratigraphic methods of analyzing sediment layers and their chronological significance.