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Modeling Use-Life Distributions in Archaeology Using New Guinea Wola Ethnographic Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael J. Shott  and
Paul Sillitoe
Michael J. Shott
Affiliation:
Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0513 (shott@csbs.csbs.uni.edu)
Paul Sillitoe
Affiliation:
Dept. of Anthropology, University of Durham, 43 Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HN, UK (paul.sillitoe@durham.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Assemblages are composed of proportions of artifacts by category. Use life affects the formation and therefore the size and composition of assemblages. Use life is to assemblage formation as lifespan is to demography, and demographers know that a population's mean lifespan is no more important than the distribution of values around that mean. When considered at all, use life typically is expressed as a mean value. But use-life's distribution—variation around the mean—affects assemblage composition independently of the mean. Distribution is neglected because its effects are not appreciated and seem difficult to measure. To improve understanding of assemblage formation, we study use-life distribution in New Guinea Wola ethnographic artifacts, using cumulative survivorship and the two-parameter Weibull model. Then we propose estimates of use-life distribution in Paleoindian stone tools. Knowing use-life distribution as well as mean, we know better how assemblages formed and improve our understanding of the archaeological record.

Resumen

Resumen

Los conjuntos arqueológicos constan de proporciones de artefactos por categoría. La vida útil influye en la formación y, por lo tanto, el tamaño y composición de los conjuntos. La vida útil se relaciona con la formación de conjuntos como la duración de vida se relaciona con la demografía, y los demógrafos saben que el tiempo promedio de vida no es más importante que la distribución de valores respecto a la media. Cuando se consideran, típicamente la vida útil se expresan como un valor promedio. Pero la distribución B variación de la vida util respecto a la media B afecta la composición de los conjuntos en forma independiente de la media. Los arqueólogos no prestan atención a la distribución, tal vez porque sus afectos no se aprecian y son difíciles de medir. Para lograr un mejor entendimiento de la formación de conjuntos arqueológicos, en este artículo se estudia la distribución de la vida útil calculada para categorías de artefactos o herramientas etnográficas Wola, de Nueva Guinea, con base en un modelo de supervivencia acumulativa y el modelo Weibull con dos parámetros. Además, se presentan cálculos de la distribución de la vida útil de especimenes arqueológicos paleoindios. Al conocer la distribución de la vida útil al igual que la media, se logra una mejor idea de cómo seforman los conjuntos y mejoramos nuestro entendimiento del registro arqueológico.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 339 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2004

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