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A Closer Look at Clusters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John R. White
John R. White*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology-Anthropology, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555
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Abstract

Rock clusters are among the most ubiquitous features found in prehistoric sites and, at the same time, those receiving the most casual treatment. There are at least twelve attributes that all such clusters share, including depth, dimensions, shape, density, rock size, fill, placement, and association. The differences between one cluster and the next can be explained in terms of different uses or functions, different types of sites, different groups (geographically or temporally), or differential availability of resources and/or preferential collection. Despite the wealth of information potentially attainable from these features, a literature search reveals that very few archaeologists deal with more than just a few of these attributes. The argument is made that such neglect ought to be corrected.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 45 , Issue 1 , January 1980 , pp. 66 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1980

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References

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