This is a query about how much of an assemblage you need to
get valid results.
What is the minimum number of identifiable bits
that people use to compare the relative abundance of
species for example. In England a number of regional
summaries of zooarch data have been/are being produced
which have had to deal with many different data sets. What
are the standards you have all been using here, and
elsewhere in the world - how small is too small to analyse
and how big is large enough to divide up and only analyse
part of the assemblage?
What would you do with an assemblage of 17,000
ident fragments, from a restricted early medieval time
period, derived from pits......and a similar site has been
reported on from close by? Can you justify full analysis,
if not what would you do?
As for small assemblages, to me it always depends on what
they are - so I will analyse tiny amounts if I think they
add some exciting/useful info, but would not consider them
valid sample sizes for statistical analysis.
To start the debate here are two examples.....
Umberto, Mark and I for Castle Mall, Norwich, used only
-Over 100 NISP per period for relative percentages of
animals, and the MNI over 30 for rel percent from MNI.
-Mandibular wear stages (two or more teeth per jaw) over 20
per period.
- Measurements, at least 10 examples were needed to be of
use.
I also know that Hambleton (1999) has suggested that the
optimum sample size for a comparative study of species
proportions in British Iron Age faunal assemblages is a
total NISP of greater than 300.
Any other contributions or seminal references.......
jacqui
Albarella, U., Beech, M. and Mulville, J. The Saxon,
Medieval and Post-Medieval mammal and bird bones
excavated 1989-91 from Castle Mall, Norwich, Norfolk AML
Report 72/97
Hambleton, E. 1999 Animal Husbandry Regimes in Iron Age
Britain, BAR British Series 282. Archaeopress, Oxford.
PS Jane (Richardson), I would be interested to hear what
decision you made about West Heslerton....
----------------------
Jacqui Mulville,
EH Regional Science Advisor (E. Mids)
Oxford University Museum,
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW
Tel: 01865-272996 Fax: 01865-272970
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