What about this...
Say I plotted all of the known Fremont residential sites by UTMs, and classified them by the dominant ceramic series (i.e., Paragonah=Snake Valley, Five Finger Ridge=Sevier, etc). Then, I would do a k-means cluster analysis of the sites.
I would then overlay the two maps, one with the clusters and one with the dominant ceramic type.
What exactly would it mean if the sites clustered by ceramic type? I think that this would be meaningful, but I'm not exactly sure how. Your input would be appreciated...
Monday, November 21, 2005
Yoffee against optimal foraging.
This post is partly in response to the "semester review" knowledge exchange.
In 501, we've been reading Myths of the Archaic State, by Norman Yoffee.
Yoffee talks about a lot of interesting things, and I will post a better summary once the semester is over. While reading last night, I saw a tidbit about optimal foraging. I'm preaching to the choir, but here it is:
"Rhys Jones (1978) studied a situation in which prehistoric Tasmaninas stopped eating fish after many hundreds of years in which fish were an important part of their diet. Whereas this decision makes no sense to some archaeologists, it shows for others that choices made by hunter-gatherers cannot be reduced to optimal strategies for exploiting the environment" (Yoffee 2005:162).
Sounds pretty good to me.
In 501, we've been reading Myths of the Archaic State, by Norman Yoffee.
Yoffee talks about a lot of interesting things, and I will post a better summary once the semester is over. While reading last night, I saw a tidbit about optimal foraging. I'm preaching to the choir, but here it is:
"Rhys Jones (1978) studied a situation in which prehistoric Tasmaninas stopped eating fish after many hundreds of years in which fish were an important part of their diet. Whereas this decision makes no sense to some archaeologists, it shows for others that choices made by hunter-gatherers cannot be reduced to optimal strategies for exploiting the environment" (Yoffee 2005:162).
Sounds pretty good to me.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Thursday, November 17, 2005
A New Feature -- The Semester in Review
I'd like to see a new feature here at FOF, the "semster in review".
Basically, those of us still taking or teaching classes would post a brief synopsis of each class, and then review it. Was it useful? Did you learn anything cool? Here is some stuff the rest of us should check out? Etc.
Good idea? If you're not in class you can put up some projects or research you've been working on too.
Basically, those of us still taking or teaching classes would post a brief synopsis of each class, and then review it. Was it useful? Did you learn anything cool? Here is some stuff the rest of us should check out? Etc.
Good idea? If you're not in class you can put up some projects or research you've been working on too.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Southwest Symposium
Do all of you vets of the SW seminar remember Jim talking about the Southwest Symposium?
Apparently Jim is going, and openly invited any interested parties. Since presenting at this symposium is by invitaion only, we would be going as spectators, but it still sounds like it could be fun. There are some interesting topics for discussion.
Take a look:
http://www.antrocom.it/file/Southwest0106.pdf
On a side note, he threw a jab in the direction of the GBAC and other conferences, mentioning that the Southwest Symposium is much more polished and professional due to the "invitation only" nature of the forum.
Apparently Jim is going, and openly invited any interested parties. Since presenting at this symposium is by invitaion only, we would be going as spectators, but it still sounds like it could be fun. There are some interesting topics for discussion.
Take a look:
http://www.antrocom.it/file/Southwest0106.pdf
On a side note, he threw a jab in the direction of the GBAC and other conferences, mentioning that the Southwest Symposium is much more polished and professional due to the "invitation only" nature of the forum.
Friday, November 11, 2005
OPA Website
I wanted to let everyone know that the new and improved OPA website is now available for your viewing enjoyment. Just point your browser to http://opa.byu.edu and feast on the eye candy that abounds. Some of the site is still under construction but the majority of the site is functioning.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Great Basin points can't win
I glanced at Hockett's AA article last night and noticed that the proj points had been mislabeled again. If the Smithsonian can't get it right we shouldn't expect AA to I guess...
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Bombs in Jordan
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9979747/
Looks like you won't be getting back to dig for a while Holly...
Looks like you won't be getting back to dig for a while Holly...
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Palm Trees and Island Shores
Well I'm afraid I'll be incommunicato for the next week and a half. Why you ask? Because my friends, I'll be laying on the beachs of Hawaii from Nov 10th through the 18th. Yes...as you all know I am independently wealth, money by the bucket loads. So I thought I would just hop over to the islands for a little break. Ok, the independently wealth part is untrue but the rest is. Sally's family has always gone to Hawaii for Christmas instead of giving presents, but since the kids are all grown up and have families, they don't take everyone anymore. Instead they try to take one of the families each year. So this year its our turn. All we have to pay for is food. I inform you all of this because I will be away from the internet during this time and will not be able to respond to the intellectually stimulating conversations going on. But didn't want you to think it was because I was a slacker like Holly. Aloha.
Friday, November 04, 2005
$400
I feel a little guilty, but I scored $400 bucks from graduate studies to attend the RMAC in Park City. In my application, I implied that my research would help shape economies in developing nations.
Anyone else score? And yes, I am going to hell...
Anyone else score? And yes, I am going to hell...
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Great Basin Foraging in American Antiquity
After school today, I came home to find everyone's favorite academic journal in my mailbox.
I've yet to read them, but there are TWO articles on Great Basin subsistence strategies in the Archaic and Holocene. One by some people from Far Western Anthropological Research Group, CA and one by Bryan Hocket from the Elko BLM. They look interesting.
When/if we have time to read them, they should provide good discussion fodder.
Unless of course, we aren't finished with the Green Hoagie motif....
I've yet to read them, but there are TWO articles on Great Basin subsistence strategies in the Archaic and Holocene. One by some people from Far Western Anthropological Research Group, CA and one by Bryan Hocket from the Elko BLM. They look interesting.
When/if we have time to read them, they should provide good discussion fodder.
Unless of course, we aren't finished with the Green Hoagie motif....
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Welcome Molly
FOF is proud to welcome Molly Hall as our newest member. Long may you post, and long may the Stars and Stripes wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave...
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