High resolution sampling of the sediment sequence which was conducted in six columns at different locations of the excavated area provided comparable results for grain size, colour and carbonate content. This enabled systematic refitting and 3D analyses of the results. The archaeological perspective relies upon the rich chipped stone assemblage where each artefact is attributed with 3D position, orientation, stratigraphy, typo‐technological description, and raw material determination. We use archaeological data and sediment parameters to review and refine a formation model that was based solely on field observations. Precondition for a detailed study of the formation processes is co‐occurrence of find layers with in situ and redeposited material. The Gravettian site Krems‐Wachtberg in northeast Austria produced a wealth of archaeological and sedimentary data. Archaeological taphonomy, perturbation assessment, site formation processes, Palaeolithic. Overall, we argue that perturbation assessment is a mandatory stage in the archaeological study of any site and that substantial progress in the understanding of site formation processes will arise from further experimental work in active contexts. Available analytical tools such as fabrics, grain size composition, and refits of lithic and bone material are detailed together with other possible criteria. This paper gives an overview of the main processes involved in site formation with an emphasis on the European Palaeolithic, and the most frequent issues archaeologists have to face. The main questions that perturbation assessment attempts to answer concern (1) the preservation of the original (anthropogenic) spatial organisation of the remains, (2) the homo-geneity and integrity of the assemblage, and (3) the state of preservation of the individual remains. The processes range from sedimentary to bio-pedological factors and weathering. In the context of archaeological taphonomy, perturbation assessment aims at characterizing the processes that have affected a set of archaeological remains (lithic pieces, faunal remains, plant material) after their abandonment, and at analysing the consequences of these processes on archaeological interpretations.
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