Contextual Incongruities, Statistical Outliers, and Anomalies: Targeting Inconspicuous Occupational Events

New methodologies are needed to address multiple componentcy and short reuse episodes that are characteristic of mobile group residential and logistical strategies. Chronometric results are often misinterpreted when evaluated within a framework suited to long-term sedentary occupations. The standard...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican antiquity Vol. 75; no. 1; p. 158
Main Author Seymour, Deni J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Cambridge University Press 01.01.2010
Subjects
Archaeology
Migration
Occupations
Research methodology
Statistical analysis
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Summary:New methodologies are needed to address multiple componentcy and short reuse episodes that are characteristic of mobile group residential and logistical strategies. Chronometric results are often misinterpreted when evaluated within a framework suited to long-term sedentary occupations. The standard practices of age-averaging, eliminating apparent "anomalous" results, and relying on high profile diagnostic tools and vessels and the most visible features--along with the expectation for "contextual congruence"--mask multi-componentcy and episodic reuse. High incidences of site reuse have been detected by considering alternate site development models and looking specifically for evidence of distinct shorter term occupations. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0002-7316
2325-5064
DOI:10.7183/0002-7316.75.1.158