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An Illustration of the Use of an Atypicality Index in Provenancing British Stone Axes[Note 1. Received 1 November 1999, accepted 28 February 2000. ...]
Author(s) -
Jones M. C.,
WilliamsThorpe O.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2001.00001.x
Subject(s) - rhyolite , index (typography) , geology , group (periodic table) , archaeology , geochemistry , history , computer science , chemistry , organic chemistry , volcano , world wide web , volcanic rock
An atypicality index has been used to compare the chemical compositions of 11 British prehistoric implements (axes and axe‐hammers, and a mace) with previously suggested and likely sources in South Wales (Group XIII spotted dolerite from the Carnmenyn area, and Group VIII rhyolite from Carnalw). Atypicality indices together with mineralogy indicate that only two out of six supposed Group XIII implements are likely to be Group XIII, and only one of the five rhyolite implements is likely to originate from Carnalw. These results provide statistical support for earlier provenancing of seven of the implements, and provide the first geochemical source information for four implements. The results illustrate the usefulness of the atypicality index in archaeology, and support the idea that Groups XIII and VIII comprise a larger variety of chemical types than previously thought. Further work is now needed to determine how prevalent this variety is within these implement groups.