Creating Order or Revealing Disorder? Some Preliminary Results Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) in Studying Archaeological Boat Finds from Norway (AD 1050–1700)
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
This article discusses the use of statistical methods for systematising 96 archaeological ship finds, mainly from the southern and south-eastern coast of Norway. It draws on an article published in 2009 by Jan Bill, where he did a similar investigation of material from the Danish area. The method of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) provides a way to summarise categorical data in a reduced number of dimensions. The results are presented in a geographical space, a plot, that can be used for making interpretations and assumptions of cohesions and divergences in the material. It is a way of analysing continuity and change in boatbuilding techniques that avoids using arbitrary and ambiguous concepts of historical (ship) types. Instead, the building techniques, the ways of ‘doing things’, make the premises for classification. The results in this article can be considered preliminary, its primary function being a discussion on methodology.
期刊介绍:
Acta Archaeologica, founded in 1930, is the leading scientific international archaeological periodical in Scandinavia. Acta Archaeologica is published annually and contains 200 to 250 large pages, beautifully illustrated. The papers are in English, German, French, or Italian, well-edited, and of lasting value. Acta Archaeologica covers the archaeology of Scandinavia, including the North Atlantic, until about 1500 AD. At the same time, Acta Archaeologica is underscoring the position of Northern Europe in its wider continental context. Mediterranean (and Near Eastern) archaeology plays a particular role. Contributions from arctic, maritime and other branches of archaeology, as well as from other continents, are included.