Archaeological sites frequently have only one or two cultural levels and can display so little geological stratigraphy (layers of various sediments representing different periods of time) that the cultural levels are mixed and difficult to define. The Lubbock Lake Landmark exhibits a virtually complete cultural sequence from the Clovis Period to Historic times. These periods are easily distinguished due to the separation of sediment layers containing cultural material by sterile layers where sediment lacks artifacts.

Each layer represents a different time period, water regime, suite of plants and animals, group of peoples, and climate and environment covering the past 12,000 years of history and prehistory.