Quantifying Diversity in Archaeology

by Robert D. Leonard (Editor), George T. Jones (Editor)

Overview

One of the enduring aims of archaeological research has been to explain why human material culture is so diverse, both across the world and through history. Recognising that diversity exists is not, however, to explain it nor to measure it effectively. The aim of the contributors to Quantifying Diversity in Archaeology is therefore to examine what we mean by diversity, to review the methods of measurement and formulae we an apply and assess the pitfalls that exist. Richness and evenness, the two main components of diversity measures developed in the biological sciences are considered, as are the value of diversity measures in the study of style, ecology, cultural geography and faunal, lithic and spatial analysis. Subsequent papers consider critically why the archaeological remains of particular cultures vary so markedly between sites, localities and regions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521108508
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/09/2009
Series:	New Directions in Archaeology
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.90(h) x 2.40(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Part I. The diversity concept: 1. The concept of diversity: an introduction George T. Jones and Robert D. Leonard; 2. The theory and mechanics of ecological diversity in archaeology Peter T. Bobrowsky and Bruce F. Ball; 3. Diversity, variation and selection David Rindos; Part II. Components of diversity: richness, evenness and factors influencing their assessment: 4. Sample size, significance and measures of diversity Keith W. Kintigh; 5. Formation processes of Broken K Pueblo: some hypotheses Michael B. Schiffer; 6. Structure and diversity in intrasite spatial analysis Jan F. Simek; 7. Measures of diversity and expedient lithic technologies George T. Jones, Charlotte Beck and Donald K. Grayson; 8. Sample size and relative abundance in archaeological analysis: illustrations from spiral fractures and seriation Donald K. Grayson; Part III. Assessments of archaeological diversity: 9. Diversity in hunter-gatherer cultural geography David Hurst Thomas; 10. The effect of urbanisation on faunal diversity: a comparison between New York City and St Augustine, Florida, in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries Nan A. Rothschild; 11. Changing strategies of Anasazi lithic procurement on Black Mesa, Arizona Robert D. Leonard, F. E. Smiley and Catherine M. Cameron; 12. Ceramic diversity, production and use Prudence M. Rice; 13. The use of diversity in stylistic analysis Margaret W. Conkey; Part IV. Commentary: 14. The concept of diversity in archaeological theory George L. Cowgill; 15. Diversity in archaeology: a group of measures in search of application? Robert C. Dunnell; References; Index.