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Downslope Movement and Archaeological Intrasite Spatial Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Abstract

Erosion can produce heterogeneous distributions of cultural materials of differing densities, weights, and shapes within an archaeological site. A large, provenienced surface collection from a preceramic site in highland Peru is examined for evidence of downslope movement as an explanation for observed heterogeneity in artifact distribution. Statistical methods of spatial analysis are used to define the extent of movements of surface materials in this site. For this particular area of Peru, critical angles for downslope movement will limit the site areas in which analysis of horizontal distributions can be expected to produce culturally significant information.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1976

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