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Weighing vs. Counting Shellfish Remains: A Comment on Mason, Peterson, and Tiffany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael A. Glassow
Michael A. Glassow*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3210
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Abstract

Mason et al. (1998) argue in a recent article that weight as a form of data quantification in the analysis of shellfish remains should be replaced with estimates of the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) based on identification of “nonrepetitive” elements (NRE) such as the hinge of a bivalve. Their comparisons of the two forms of shell data quantification lack relevance, and they fail to recognize difficulties in identifying nonrepetitive elements on many kinds of shells. Although weight of shells has its shortcomings, it is still the most appropriate form of quantification in many contexts. A more fruitful viewpoint would be to consider ways in which weight and MNI (or NRE) might complement each other in addressing research questions.

Resumen

Resumen

Mason et al. (1998) argumenta en un artículo reciente que el uso de medidas de peso para cuantificar restos de moluscos (metazos) debería ser reemplazado por estimaciones del número mínimo de individuos (NMI) basado en la identificación “no repetitiva ” de elementos (NRE) tales como las bisagras (mandíbulas) de las conchas de los moluscos. Las comparaciones hechas entre estos metodos de cuantificación en lo que respecta a mediciones de conchas de moluscos no tienen relevancia, además no reconocen las dificultades de identificar elementos no repetitivos en muchos diferentes tipos de conchas. Aunque el usar mediciones de peso tiene sus limitaciones, continúa siendo el método más apropiado en muchas instancias. Un punto de vista más fructífero sería el considerar formas en las cuales los dos métodos, peso y NMI (con o sin NRE) se puedan complementar.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 407 - 414
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2000

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References

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