Modifiable reporting unit problems and time series of long-term human activity. (30th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bevan, A.; Crema, E. R.
• Is Part Of: Philosophical transactions. Volume 376:Number 1816(2021)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-30
• Subjects: archaeology -- radiocarbon -- settlement -- population -- research bias; Biology -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0726
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8436

Abstract

Abstract : This paper responds to a resurgence of interest in constructing long-term time proxies of human activity, especially but not limited to models of population change over the Pleistocene and/or Holocene. While very much agreeing with the need for this increased attention, we emphasize three important issues that can all be thought of as modifiable reporting unit problems: the impact of (i) archaeological periodization, (ii) uneven event durations and (iii) geographical nucleation-dispersal phenomena. Drawing inspiration from real-world examples from prehistoric Britain, Greece and Japan, we explore their consequences and possible mitigation via a reproducible set of tactical simulations. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography'.