MODELS, DATA, STATISTICS, AND OUTLIERS-A STATISTICAL REVOLUTION IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ~(14)C DATING

摘要

Increasingly, the uses of data arc becoming more and more sophisticated as the archaeological and chronological questions being asked become more complex. Statistical models and tools for inference arc a routine part of an archaeological investigation encouraged through the availability of software, and with each release of that software, additional functionality is being added. This comes with enormous benefit but also at a cost-the dreaded black box. Therefore, this article, as the first in a scries of short articles, will attempt to cover some of the things one needs to know to make the most of the power of the statistical revolution, while avoiding the pitfalls.