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Towards an artefact's-eye view: Non-site analysis of discard patterns and lithic technology in Neotropical settings with a case from Misiones province, Argentina

Riris, P; (2017) Towards an artefact's-eye view: Non-site analysis of discard patterns and lithic technology in Neotropical settings with a case from Misiones province, Argentina. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 11 pp. 626-638. 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.01.002. Green open access

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AAM - Towards an artefact's-eye view - Non-site analysis of discard patterns and lithic technology in Neotropical settings with a case from Misiones province Argent.pdf - Accepted Version

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Abstract

Surface scatters are an important source of archaeological data in the Neotropics, yet despite their role in exploring regional land use, existing frameworks have serious methodological and theoretical drawbacks. This study proposes a robust alternative to site-centric approaches, by examining spatial and technological variability in time-averaged deposits of artefacts collected from the modern surface of Misiones province, north-eastern Argentina. A family of spatial statistical techniques supported by Monte Carlo simulation identify statistically significant inhomogeneity and clustering in lithic point pattern data. This highlights interaction between technologically meaningful sub-samples of four assemblages, which is interpreted as reflecting long-term discard and association of distinctive reduction sequences. These are irreducible to individual episodes, demonstrating that partitioning palimpsests into sites poorly reflects record formation on a landscape level. This illustrates how explicit models of depositional trends can provide information on indigenous land use, and underlines the rich informative potential of surface archaeology in tropical settings.

Type: Article
Title: Towards an artefact's-eye view: Non-site analysis of discard patterns and lithic technology in Neotropical settings with a case from Misiones province, Argentina
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.01.002
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.01.002
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Surface archaeology, Spatial analysis, Survey, Argentina, Lithic technology
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10064517
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