The Absolute Speed of Change: Multidimensional Scaling and Innovation Rates

The evaluation of societal developments depends on a clear determination of the rate of change that occurs within societies. While many statistical approaches are able to indicate similarity/dissimilarity distances between archaeological assemblages, only a few can be linked to linear timescales. In the following approach, the advantages of non‐metric multidimensional scaling ( NMDS ) are described as a method that produces gradients for a quantitative measurement of cultural change on a linear timescale. Thus, the speed of innovations or the regression of cultural developments could be quantified. In consequence, a quantified proxy of societal developments on a linear timescale is provided. In two examples, the usefulness of such a proxy is described in relation to other data.