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A Method for Taxonomic Typology Construction and an Example: Utilized Flakes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Dwight W. Read  and
Glenn Russell
Dwight W. Read
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Glenn Russell
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024
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Abstract

This paper considers problems inherent in constructing typologies based on subdividing artifacts using clustering algorithms that assume a paradigmatic structure (as do most, if not all, currently used algorithms) and presents an alternative method based on a taxonomic, rather than a paradigmatic, structure for the artifact classes. The method is exemplified by analysis of an assemblage of utilized flakes from a series of late prehistoric habitation sites in the central highlands of Peru. These flakes were previously analyzed using more intuitive, traditional methods but without identifying any satisfactory groupings within the assemblage. Similarly, paradigmatically based clustering algorithms applied to the entire data set and using the several variables measured over these flakes were also unable to extract meaningful groupings. In contrast, the method presented here was able to (1) construct a partition of the flake assemblage into groups that also made intuitive sense to the practitioner, (2) have functional interpretation assignable through a model of transmission of forces from agent to object acted on, and (3) produce units differentially occurring across the several subsites from which the utilized flakes were obtained, i.e., units that add another dimension to the analysis of activities represented by the archaeological assemblage. Although demonstrated with utilized flakes, the method has general application.

Resumen

Resumen

Este artículo considera problemas inherentes a la construcción de tipologías basadas en la subdivisión de artefactos usando algoritmos de racimo que asumen una estructura paradigmatíca (asi como en el caso de la mayoria o quizds de todos los algoritmos actualmente usados). Aquí sepresenta un método alternativo basado en una estructura taxonómica, en vez de una estructura paradigmatíca,, para la clasificación de artefactos. El método se ilustra con el análisis de un conjunto de lascas utilizadas provenientes de sitios habitacionales prehistóricos en la Sierra Central del Perú. Estas lascas fueron analizadas previamente, usándose métodos tradicionales más intuitivos, pero sin lograr identificar agrupaciones significativas dentro del conjunto. Cuando los algoritmos de racimo con base paraáigmatica fueron aplicados a todos los datos obtenidos usando las variables medidas en estas lascas, tampoco se consiguió una agrupación de relieve o importancia. En contraste, el método que presentamos fue capaz de (I) descubrir exitosamente grupos significativos del conjunto de lascas, los que tambien tienen sentido para aquéllos que practican el método intuitivo (2) asignar interpretaciones funcionales a través de un modelo de transmisión defuerza desde el agente hacia el objeto que la recibey (3) producir unidades que ocurren diferencialmente en los subsitios donde se obtuvieron las lascas; v.g., unidades que proveen una dimensión adicional al análisis de actividades representadas en el conjunto arqueológico. Aún cuando aquí el método se ilustra con lascas que han sido utilizadas, éste tiene aplicación general.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 61 , Issue 4 , October 1996 , pp. 663 - 684
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1996

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