Abstract
The environment is a key factor in site formation and artefact preservation or deterioration, through physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic processes occurring within a depositional sequence. A conceptual model of site formation (δ F/δ t) is presented, in which the rate of site formation due to component physical (δ P/δ t), biological (δ B/δ t), chemical (δ C/δ t) processes, and anthropogenic processes (δ A/δ t) are plotted against relative sedimentation rate (δ S/δ t). The model is spatially and temporally independent, can be applied to a site as a whole and to its individual components, and may also have a predictive capacity. Environmental and anthropogenic processes that may influence archaeological studies in arid and semi-arid Australia are discussed and quantitatively applied to the model. This study highlights the need for directing future research towards more multidisciplinary research throughout northern Australia.
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