Abstract
Accumulations research examines the dynamic relationship among artifact discard, duration of occupation, and population size. The history of accumulations research is reviewed, emphasizing studies that use accumulation rates to measure site occupation span. Ethnoarchaeological and experimental research demonstrates that cooking pots are an ideal artifact type for accumulations research. Data from the Duckfoot site in southwestern Colorado are used to develop an annual accumulation rate of cooking pot sherds for households. This rate is used, along with population estimates and estimates of the total cooking pot sherd accumulation, to determine the occupation span of five sites located in the nearby Dolores River valley.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 141-191 |
Number of pages | 51 |
Journal | Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1997 |
Keywords
- Archaeology
- Ethnoarchaeology
- Pottery use and discard
- Site occupation span
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Archaeology