
Contents
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The Causes of Loss The Causes of Loss
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Most Things are Never Recorded in the First Place Most Things are Never Recorded in the First Place
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Cultural Practices Cultural Practices
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Deterioration Deterioration
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Sedimentation and Surface Cover Sedimentation and Surface Cover
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Field Methods Field Methods
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The Effects of Loss The Effects of Loss
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Loss Decreases Assemblage Size and Frequency of Sites Loss Decreases Assemblage Size and Frequency of Sites
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Loss Affects the Composition of Assemblages Loss Affects the Composition of Assemblages
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Loss Increases Sampling Interval Loss Increases Sampling Interval
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Sample Size Is Inversely Correlated with Time Gaps Sample Size Is Inversely Correlated with Time Gaps
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Wider Sampling Universes Lead to Longer Time Intervals Wider Sampling Universes Lead to Longer Time Intervals
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Age-Biased Preservation Loss Leads to Shorter Time Gaps (All Other Things Being Equal) Age-Biased Preservation Loss Leads to Shorter Time Gaps (All Other Things Being Equal)
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Putting It All Together: The Sampling Interval of the Archaeological Record Ranges from 100 to 103 Years Putting It All Together: The Sampling Interval of the Archaeological Record Ranges from 100 to 103 Years
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A Wider Sampling Universe Leads to Longer Space Intervals A Wider Sampling Universe Leads to Longer Space Intervals
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The Temporal Range of Cultural Traits is Underestimated because of Loss The Temporal Range of Cultural Traits is Underestimated because of Loss
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The Signor-Lipps Effect The Signor-Lipps Effect
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Loss Slows Down Apparent Rates of Change Loss Slows Down Apparent Rates of Change
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Loss Limits Our Capacity to Control for Covariates Loss Limits Our Capacity to Control for Covariates
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Conclusion Conclusion
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4 The Forces That Shape the Quality of the Archaeological Record, II: The Loss of Archaeological Data
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Published:August 2019
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Abstract
I examine the forces that lead to the loss of information and archaeological material. The forces of loss include preservation loss and observation loss. Preservation loss describes the physical remains that did not preserve or that have been damaged to such an extent that the information-bearing traces have been obliterated. Observation loss refers to physical remains that are preserved in the archaeological record but that have not been discovered or noticed by archaeologists. The cultural practices of ancient people, deterioration, decay, sedimentation, surface cover and field excavation techniques can all lead to both types of loss. Loss impacts the archaeological record in many ways. It creates a “Pull of the Recent” by preferentially decreasing the number of old archaeological sites, affect the size, and the composition of assemblages. It increases the sampling interval of the archaeological record to orders of magnitude ranging from 100 to 103 years, leads us to underestimate the temporal range of cultural traits, can make sudden cultural change appear gradual, slows down apparent rates of change, and limits our capacity to control for covariates.
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