Validating classical multivariate models in archaeology : English medieval bellfounding as a case study
The principal aim of this study is to apply various methods of numeric classification and ordination (commonly used by archaeologists) to the incidence matrix of stamps occurring on medieval bells from England, and to compare the results with what is known independently about these data from documentary sources. The incidence matrix records the presence of 1116 stamps on 3390 bells. Recorded bells have been assigned to 89 different founders, 51 of whom have bells appearing in the incidence matrix. Three varieties of cluster analysis and correspondence analysis have been applied to this matrix. These analyses reveal clusters of bells and stamps relating to particular founders and foundries, and the relative chronological sequence in which the bells were cast and the stamps used. The success of each technique in defining these clusters and sequences accurately has been tested quantitatively by comparing the results of each analysis with the documentary record. For this to be valid, it is vital that the link between the documentary evidence and the surviving bells is rigorous and explicit. The criteria which have been used to link these two types of data are discussed in Chapter 2. The results of the different
Bayliss, Alexandra Louise
Validating classical multivariate models in archaeology : English medieval bellfounding as a case study. The principal aim of this study is to apply various methods of numeric classification and ordination (commonly used by archaeologists) to the incidence matrix of stamps occurring on medieval bells from England, and to compare the results with what is known independently about these data from documentary sources. The incidence matrix records the presence of 1116 stamps on 3390 bells. Recorded bells have been assigned to 89 different founders, 51 of whom have bells appearing in the incidence matrix. Three varieties of cluster analysis and correspondence analysis have been applied to this matrix. These analyses reveal clusters of bells and stamps relating to particular founders and foundries, and the relative chronological sequence in which the bells were cast and the stamps used. The success of each technique in defining these clusters and sequences accurately has been tested quantitatively by comparing the results of each analysis with the documentary record. For this to be valid, it is vital that the link between the documentary evidence and the surviving bells is rigorous and explicit. The criteria which have been used to link these two types of data are discussed in Chapter 2. The results of the different
classical multivariate model archaeology english_medieval case_study principal_aim study apply_various method classification ordination commonly_use archaeologist incidence matrix stamp occur medieval bell england compare know independently data documentary_source incidence matrix record presence bell recorded bell assign different founder bell appear incidence matrix variety cluster_analysis correspondence_analysis apply matrix analysis_reveal cluster bell stamp relate particular founder relative chronological_sequence bell cast stamp use success technique define cluster sequence accurately test quantitatively compare analysis documentary record valid vital link documentary_evidence survive bell rigorous explicit criterion_use link two_type data discuss different