Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data

Caitlin E. Buck

ISBN 10: 0471961973 / ISBN 13: 9780471961970

Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 1996

About this Item

This book explores the processes through which archaeologists analyze data and describes how these techniques can be made more rigorous and effective by sound statistical modelling. Series: Statistics in Practice. Num Pages: 402 pages, line drawings, halftones. BIC Classification: HDA; HDW; PBT. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 162 x 237 x 35. Weight in Grams: 776. . 1996. 1st Edition. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780471961970

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471961973
• ISBN 13: 9780471961970
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Statistics in Practice A new series of practical books outliningthe use of statistical techniques in a wide range of applicationareas:

• Human and Biological Sciences
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Industry, Commerce and Finance

The authors of this important text explore the processes throughwhich archaeologists analyse their data and how these can be mademore rigorous and effective by sound statistical modelling. Theyassume relatively little previous statistical or mathematicalknowledge. Introducing the idea underlying the Bayesian approach tothe statistical analysis of data and their subsequentinterpretation, the authors demonstrate the major advantage of thisapproach, i.e. that it allows the incorporation of relevant priorknowledge or beliefs into the analysis. By doing so it provides alogical and coherent way of updating beliefs from those held beforeobserving the data to those held after taking the data intoaccount. To illustrate the power and effectiveness of mathematicaland statistical modelling within the Bayesian framework, a varietyof real case studies are presented covering areas of commoninterest to archaeologists. These case studies cover applicationsin areas such as radiocarbon dating, spatial analysis, provenancestudies and other dating methods. Background to these case studiesis provided for those readers not so familiar with the subject.Thus, the book provides an examination of the theoretical andpractical consequences of Bayesian analysis for examining problemsin archaeology. Students of archaeology and related disciplines andprofessional archaeologists will find the book an informative andpractical introduction to the subject.

About the Author

Caitlin E. Buck is a British archaeologist and statistician specialising the application of Bayesian statistics to archaeology, and known for her work in radiocarbon dating. She is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sheffield.

William G. Cavanagh is the author of Bayesian Approach to Intrepreting Archaeological Data, published by Wiley.

Cliff D. Litton is the author of Bayesian Approach to Intrepreting Archaeological Data, published by Wiley.