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Exploring morphological bias in metal-detected finds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2016

H.E.M. Cool  and
M.J. Baxter
H.E.M. Cool*
Affiliation:
Barbican Research Associates, 16 Lady Bay Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5BJ, UK
M.J. Baxter
Affiliation:
Nottingham Trent University (Emeritus), Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU, UK
*
*Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Since the establishment of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the systematic reporting of metal-detected finds in England and Wales has increased our knowledge of distribution patterns and complemented the evidence from assemblages uncovered by conventional excavation. The large number of Roman metal small finds documented, particularly brooches, now allows for a quantitative comparison between those recovered through excavation and those discovered by metal-detecting. This study shows that certain artefact morphologies are more easily detected than others, resulting in differential rates of representation in the archaeological record. It is suggested that similar biases can be seen in artefacts from other periods. This has important consequences for anyone wishing to use metal-detected material in synthetic studies.

Keywords

United KingdomRomanmetal-detectorrecovery biasmorphologybrooches
Type
Method
Information
Antiquity , Volume 90 , Issue 354 , December 2016 , pp. 1643 - 1653
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2016 

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