Pedogenesis

The suite of physical, chemical, biological, and environmental processes that generate, modify, and differentiate soils from parent material over time, producing characteristic horizons and soil properties.

The suite of natural and anthropogenic processes that form, modify, and differentiate soils through weathering of parent material, accumulation and decomposition of organic matter, bioturbation, and chemical and biochemical transformations, producing soil horizons and properties that affect preservation and stratigraphy at archaeological sites.