Data Inconsistency and Multi-Site Analyses: Using Multilevel Modeling to Transform Archaeological Data

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

For over a century, the proliferation of archaeological excavations in the United States has generated a large amount of archaeological data. Much of this data is published in archaeological reports that are housed in state-run archives. These archives offer a wealth of information for scholars who explore research questions that require multi-site analyses. However, the lack of consistency in reporting can make it difficult to combine data from previously excavated sites. Specifically, if data is reported in different units (e.g., weights vs. counts), it can be difficult or impossible to use in the same analysis. To explore this issue, I present a case study that examines using botanical remains to study dietary trends in the Interior Eastern Woodlands. I use multilevel modeling to transform weight data from count data for seven nut types, providing a stable basis for comparison across sites. This analysis explores how statistical methods can be used to address reporting inconsistencies between sites, thus allowing previously excavated data to be used in multi-site analyses.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39304.0