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Why do archaeologists record the exact stratigraphic location of artifacts?

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Svante Paabo stands smiling with one hand on a Neanderthal skeleton model in front of a blue Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology banner. — Anthropology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology director Svante Pӓӓbo posing with a model of a Neanderthal skeleton.

Archaeologists record the exact stratigraphic location of artifacts because stratigraphy is the essential foundation for establishing relative chronology at a site.1

By applying the law of superposition, which dictates that in undisturbed deposits the oldest layers are located at the lowest levels, researchers can determine the sequence of occupation and the age of artifacts relative to one another. Because excavation is inherently a destructive process, precise recording through field notes, diagrams, and photography is the only way to preserve the context necessary for future analysis and reinterpretation.213

Furthermore, careful stratigraphic recording allows archaeologists to identify potential disturbances—such as later intrusions or burials—that might otherwise lead to incorrect dating. By documenting the precise location of finds, scholars can distinguish between contemporary materials and those that have been displaced, ensuring a more accurate reconstruction of history.1