The Bayesian approach to archaeological data analysis: An application of change-point analysis to prehistoric domes

R.R. Laxton, William G. Cavanagh, Clifford David Litton, Caitlin E. Buck, R. D. Blair

«Archeologia e Calcolatori» 1994, 5, 53-68

Abstract

In recent years, archaeologists have become increasingly aware of the added interpretability that can be gained if they adopt a model-based approach to their statistical analyses. In this paper we encourage the use of just such an approach for the investigation of dimensional data from the Sardinian corbelled structures known as Nuraghi. We highlight the fact that the experts who surveyed these domes have gained extra information (other than the basic structural measurements) which is not usually included in statistical investigations in any formal manner. Here we advocate the adoption of the Bayesian statistical framework within which the model, the data and the expert knowledge can be combined in a consistent manner and thus all permitted to influence our final inferences. By using examples we are able to demonstrate that, for at least some of the domes surveyed, the inclusion of the expert knowledge has a marked effect on the result obtained.

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