Quantifying Diversity in Archaeology

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Quantifying Diversity in Archaeology
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Robert D. Leonard
Edited by George T. Jones
SeriesNew Directions in Archaeology
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:172
Dimensions(mm): Height 279,Width 210
Category/GenreArchaeology
ISBN/Barcode 9780521108508
ClassificationsDewey:930.1
Audience
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 9 April 2009
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

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.