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Methods for the Detection of Census Error in Palaeodemography 1
Author(s) -
LOVEJOY C. OWEN
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1971.73.1.02a00080
Subject(s) - census , reliability (semiconductor) , population , statistics , geography , observational error , econometrics , demography , mathematics , sociology , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Recent dramatic improvements of archaeological technique have been accompanied by renewed interest in demographic variables deducible from skeletal populations. Although such data will provide meaningful insight into changes in population biology and structure resulting from significant socio‐economic shifts, such conclusions must be subjected to more sophisticated methods of treatment and analysis. Techniques are suggested for the detection of intra‐population census error and also for examination of the reliability and meaningfulness of extra‐population comparisons. Employment of these should minimize census error and serve to establish the reliability of demographic inferences based on comparison of discrete skeletal samples.