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Ceramic Micro-Seriation: Types or Attributes?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Andrew I. Duff*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287–2402

Abstract

Micro-seriation using attributes of decorated ceramics has been shown to accurately refine intrasite and intersite relative dating. Using data from Pueblo de los Muertos, a nucleated town in west-central New Mexico, this presentation demonstrates that micro-seriation of type frequencies produces equally accurate results. Typological analysis also provides substantial time savings when compared to attribute recording. Additionally, using types with established temporal ranges permits linkage of relative seriation with absolute dates. A combination of correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis was found to provide sound and easily interpretable results. The results of a typological seriation of Pueblo de los Muertos deposits are examined, and the utility of typological seriation for other contexts is considered.

Resumen

Resumen

La micro-seriación de atributos de decoration cerámica ha sido considerada como la tecnica acertada para refinar las fechas relativas dentro de un sitio y entre varios sitios. Este artículo utiliza datos de Pueblo de los Muertos, un pueblo nucleado localizado en el centro-oeste de Nuevo México, para demostrar que la micro-seriación defrecuencia de tipos cerámicos produce resultados igualmente acertados. El análisis tipológico también representa un ahorro de tiempo substancial en comparación con el tiempo que se necesita para analizar los atributos decorativos. Además, el uso de tipos con rangos temporales establecidos permite enlazar la seriación relativa con fechamientos absolutos. Una combination entre Análisis de Correspondencia y el método de agrupamiento con k-medias produjo resultados confiables y fáciles de interpretar. Aquí se examinan los resultados de una seriación tipológica de los depósitos de Pueblo de los Muertos y se considera la utilidad de la seriación tipológica en otros contextos.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1996

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References

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