Breakage, bias and the archaeological surface record: Assessing the quantification problem in archaeological field survey

Abstract

AbstractIn the practice of archaeological field survey there is a manifest importance for densities, that is, an abundance of artifacts, often relying on simple counts of objects. However, a well‐known issue is variable breakage of pottery that can cause biases in quantitative analysis. Although such issues are generally acknowledged, a direct assessment of breakage and the resulting biases is lacking in research. This paper explores the pros and cons of quantification methods of surface collections in terms of counts or weights, and demonstrates the importance of analysing weight and breakage as part of an integrative approach.