What Do the Patterns Mean? Archaeological Distributions and Bias in Survey Data

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This paper explores aspects of the many factors that produce patterning in archaeological survey data, focussing on sources of bias that include topography, land use and environment; survey strategies and the roles of individuals; the problems of recognition, and those inherent in classifications and terminology; and settlement and land use histories. Examples of how such factors can be identified are given, illustrating the importance of a ‘source-critical’ approach to assessing the representativity of survey data.