Imprint (archeology)

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Similar to the imprint in geology , imprints are also used in archeology to acquire knowledge about prehistory . They are one of the few ways to learn about Stone Age items that usually rot.

An imprint is created when an object exerts pressure on a deformable, usually damp surface. If the surface dries out or if it is covered with sediment , for example lava , earth or dust, the shape of the contact surface of the object with the ground is retained.

Different mechanisms are conceivable:

1. A stake is in the ground and is rotting; the cavity fills with other material.
2. A sunken ship lying on the mud rots; new sediment layers form over it.
3. A heavy basket stands on the clay ground and is being carried away; the sun dries the clay.
4. A busy road is compacted by the wagon wheels. The lanes can still be made out after thousands of years.