Kihtidelt

Kihtidelt is a term used in Estonian-language scientific literature to describe a layer-by-layer approach to analyzing stratified deposits, such as sediments, soils, and archaeological contexts. It treats each stratigraphic layer as a discrete record while situating it within the broader sequence, enabling researchers to reconstruct environmental conditions and depositional histories with explicit, layer-level evidence.

Origin and usage: The word combines kiht, the Estonian word for “layer,” with a common technical suffix used in descriptive terms. The term is most commonly found in geology, archaeology, and paleoenvironmental studies conducted in Estonia and in multilingual publications that reference Estonian fieldwork.

In practice, kihtidelt involves:

- Systematic logging of each layer’s lithology, color, texture, and any organic or fossil content.

- Identification of stratigraphic boundaries and aging proxies (such as tephra layers, pollen zones, charcoal, or radiometric ages).

- Cross-layer synthesis to interpret deposition rates, environmental shifts, and site formation processes.

Impact and scope: The concept supports transparent documentation and reproducible interpretation by making layer-level evidence explicit. It guides field recording, laboratory processing, and the narrative integration of a site’s history, emphasizing methodical, incremental reconstruction over generalized assumptions.

See also: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Paleoenvironmental reconstruction, Archaeological stratigraphy.