Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: The evaluation of societal developments depends on a clear determination of the rate of change that occurs within societies. While many statistical approaches are able to indicate similarity/dissimilarity distances between archaeological assemblages, only a few can be linked to linear timescales. In the following approach, the advantages of non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) are described as a method that produces gradients for a quantitative measurement of cultural change on a linear timescale. Thus, the speed of innovations or the regression of cultural developments could be quantified. In consequence, a quantified proxy of societal developments on a linear timescale is provided. In two examples, the usefulness of such a proxy is described in relation to other data.
Source: Archaeometry
DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12111
Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Language: English
Subfield: Cultural Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Award: G2539907998
OpenAlex ID: W1945313759