Weighing vs. Counting: Measurement Reliability and the California School of Midden Analysis

Mason, Roger D.; Peterson, Mark L.; Tiffany, Joseph A.

doi:10.2307/2694700

Cited by 93 publications

(60 citation statements)

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“…both weights and MNIs has attracted criticism with discussion mostly focused on the validity of such approaches in providing unambiguous measures for the representation of taxa within a given assemblage (see Waselkov, 1987;Erlandson, 1994;Mason et al, 1998;Álvarez et al, 2011;Faulkner, 2011;Habu et al, 2011;Rick and Waselkov, 2015). Glassow, however, stated that "neither MNI nor weight proportions, is a universal unit of analysis for addressing the various questions about human predation on shellfish that archeologists frequently ask" (Glassow, 2000, p. 412).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loco or no Loco? Holocene Climatic Fluctuations, Human Demography, and Community Based Management of Coastal Resources in Northern Chile

et al. 2017

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loco or no Loco? Holocene Climatic Fluctuations, Human Demography, and Community Based Management of Coastal Resources in Northern Chile

et al. 2017

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“…The results suggest that for each excavation level MNI and weight are strongly correlated and therefore provide comparable results. While MNI and weight measurements both have their strengths and weaknesses for shell analysts (see Mason et al 1998;Glassow 2000;Claassen 1998;, we have chosen to use MNI for the analyses in this study. While shell weights can be useful for certain types of analysis, they may be problematic when modeling the potential impact of predation on populations of prey species.…”

Section: Shellfish Analysis Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating shellfish deposition and landscape history at the Natia Beach site, Fiji

Morrison¹,

Cochrane²

2008

Journal of Archaeological Science

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Abstract:The relationship between environmental variation and subsistence practices is a central point of discussion in much Oceanic archaeology. While human predation can significantly reduce prey populations, environmental variation also contributes to reductions in prey abundance, possibly leading to increased human competition and resource scarcity. At the Natia Beach Site, Nacula Island, Fiji, geoarchaeological evidence suggests that coastal progradation began soon after initial occupation of the coastal plain. Additionally, at approximately 650 BP a marked increase in clay and silt deposition occurred. Changes in coastal geomorphology may be explained by landscape response to regional Mid-Holocene sea level fall combined with human induced soil erosion due to upland settlement. Smaller scale environmental changes associated with climate variability may have also played a role. Additionally, landscape change appears to have had a measurable impact on local nearshore mollusks that are sensitive to high levels of water turbidity. Minor evidence of human exploitation is observable in this shellfish assemblage, although changes in predation pressure may have allowed shellfish populations to recover. Increased ceramic diversity and fortified settlements also appear at approximately 650 BP on Nacula and other parts of Fiji. The suite of changes at Natia may be explained by processes of regional and local environmental changes, and human adaptation in terms of subsistence, spatial organization, and competition.3

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“…Despite Claassen's (1998:45) obvious lack of confidence in the applicability of the criteria in demonstrating human impact on population sizes and the alteration of demographics, some or all of them have nevertheless been generally accepted within the archaeological community more or less as benchmarks against which data can be evaluated (e.g. Allen 2012; Braje et al 2007;Faulkner 2006Faulkner , 2009Faulkner , 2013Giovas et al 2010;Giovas et al 2013;Grayson et al 2001;Jerardino 1997;Jerardino et al 1992;Mannino and Thomas 2002;Mason et al 1998;Mason et al 2000;Nagaoka 2002;Whitaker 2008). …”

Section: Molluscs As Indicators Of Human Behaviour and Environmental mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there are ongoing debates about the most appropriate method for quantifying molluscan remains (e.g. Claassen 1998Claassen , 2000Giovas 2009;Glassow 2000;Lyman 2008;Mannino and Thomas 2001;Mason et al 1998;Mowat 1994;Nunn et al 2007;Poteate and Fitzpatrick 2013;Reitz and Wing 2008), this combination is frequently used in faunal studies both in Australia and internationally, as it is able to more accurately describe the proportions of taxa, the degree of inter-site and intra-site fragmentation, and also provides comparisons with non-molluscan components (see e.g. Faulkner 2013:73;Szabó 2009;Ulm 2006).…”

Section: Marine Molluscsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Claassen 1998;Faulkner 2006Faulkner , 2013Giovas 2009;Mannino and Thomas 2001;Mason et al 1998;Nunn et al 2007;Poteate and Fitzpatrick 2013;Szabó 2009;Ulm 2004Ulm , 2006. However, gastropods possess a greater number of NRE than bivalves (Figure 4-1), and so for this study, depending on individual taxa, an additional range of NRE was used to calculate MNI, including apertural lips >50% complete, decks which included columellar folds (nerites), umbilici, and opercula >50% complete (Figure 4-1) (modified from Harris et al 2015).…”

Section: Marine Molluscsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Archaeological expressions of Holocene cultural and environmental change in coastal Southeast Queensland

Smith¹

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This thesis is concerned with the relationship between Holocene environmental changes and human behaviour in coastal southeast Queensland. The study region covers an area stretching from Fraser Island in the north to the border of northern New South Wales in the south, and possesses the best documented and intensively scrutinised coastal archaeological record in Australia. The archaeology of the area was a major focus from the late 1970s when the Moreton Regional Archaeological Project, a long-term multi-stage regional project, was established to coordinate archaeological investigations in southeast Queensland. The Cooloola Region Archaeological Project was established in the mid-1980s to explore the archaeology north of the Noosa River. These initial studies provided the basis for a regional chronology, as well as models of settlement and subsistence based on the exploitation of the area's rich marine resources.In the time since the original work was conducted the research foci for coastal archaeology, both in Australia and internationally, have moved toward more complex issues such as assessing the impact of humans on marine ecosystems, the identification of patterns in resource exploitation strategies, and the use of molluscs as proxy evidence in local and regional environmental reconstructions.Additionally, regionally-specific models of Holocene environmental change have been developed, in line with greater emphasis being placed on the ecology and biology of the constituent species in middens in addressing questions of spatial and chronological variations in site patterning.In view of these developments, midden deposits from five sites from differing locations in southeast Queensland were re-analysed, and a literature review of two further sites was also undertaken, with the aim of assessing human behavioural variability during the mid to late Holocene through the Publications during candidature No publications Publications included in this thesis No publications included. vi Contributions by others to the thesisNo contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degreeNone.vii Acknowledgements Researching and writing a PhD thesis is never a straightforward endeavour, although it seems to be a good idea at the time. The project has taken a long time to come to fruition, delayed by a combination of protracted and ultimately fruitless negotiations with stakeholders, illness, and bereavement. There are many people to thank for helping me to eventually get over the line. Chris was an undergraduate student in one of the University of Queensland Field Archaeology viii classes on Bribie Island in the early 1990s. Even then his knowledge of lithics was scary. Chris kindly stepped in as my principal advisor when Pat moved to Sydney. I must confess some disappointment that the artefact assemblages in my study were not more exciting for him but, as he does most things, he has calmly taken it in his stride.

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Weighing vs. Counting: Measurement Reliability and the California School of Midden Analysis

Cited by 93 publications

References 30 publications

Loco or no Loco? Holocene Climatic Fluctuations, Human Demography, and Community Based Management of Coastal Resources in Northern Chile

Loco or no Loco? Holocene Climatic Fluctuations, Human Demography, and Community Based Management of Coastal Resources in Northern Chile

Investigating shellfish deposition and landscape history at the Natia Beach site, Fiji

Archaeological expressions of Holocene cultural and environmental change in coastal Southeast Queensland

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