Accumulations research: Problems and prospects for estimating site occupation span

Mark D. Varien; Barbara J. Mills

doi:10.1007/BF02428057

Accumulations research: Problems and prospects for estimating site occupation span

Mark D. Varien, Barbara J. Mills

Anthropology, School of

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

76 Scopus citations

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)
Pages (from-to)	141-191
Number of pages	51
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory
Volume	4
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02428057
State	Published - Jan 1 1997

Keywords

Archaeology
Ethnoarchaeology
Pottery use and discard
Site occupation span

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
Archaeology

Access to Document

10.1007/BF02428057

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