Beyond the Layer: A 3D-Driven Generalized Methodology for the Quantitative Dissection of Archaeological Palimpsests

Abstract Accurately defining the temporal relationships between archaeological events is essential to avoid misleading interpretations of human behavior. The dissection of archaeological palimpsests seeks to achieve the highest possible resolution in reconstructing the sequence of human activities recorded within a single stratigraphic layer, overcoming the sedimentological uniformity that masks distinct depositional events. While numerous methodologies have been developed and applied over recent decades, the potential of virtual and three-dimensional technologies in this field remains underexplored. In this contribution, we propose ArchStrat: a novel method that employs 3D technology to discriminate the diachronic deposition of refitting groups, fragments originally part of the same object, by quantifying their vertical displacement relative to the minimum spatial volume they occupy. This approach enables a more precise identification of the temporal sequence of events within a stratigraphic context. We define the applicability domain to determine which pairs of refits are suitable for this analysis, then we conduct a sensitivity analysis to assess the efficiency of the method, and finally, we test the protocol through a virtual excavation simulation. Our results demonstrate the significant potential of 3D virtual techniques in dissecting archaeological palimpsests, offering new insights into site formation processes and allowing a more refined understanding of human activities over time.