| Abstract: |
The volume arises out of a conference at Southampton in 1977 although much has been added to the papers presented on that occasion. The editors provide a general introduction on attitudes to sampling in British archaeology, focusing on the lack of interest in the subject, and they also provide introductions to the three sections of the volume. Part 1, sampling and research design at the regional scale, begins with Cherry and Shennan arguing the case for probabilistic sampling strategies for regional surveys (17-48), an example of such an approach is provided by the work in E Hampshire (T Schadla-Hall & S Shennan, 87-104). R Foley discusses the factors that should influence the incorporation of sampling into initial research design (49-65) while F Hamond suggests that probabilistic sampling, properly used, permits the use of available data in the formulation of explanatory hypotheses and that the simulation of the associated models points to where fieldwork might be most productive (67-85). Further papers on the use of 'known' archaeological material with examples from Shetland (P Winham, 105-20), a field walking strategy used on the Upper and Middle Great Ouse (P Woodward, 121-7) and aerial photography (R Palmer, 129-48) conclude the section. Part 2 is concerned with strategies for sampling intra-site variability. C Haselgrove sees inter-site and inter-regional comparison of excavated material as requiring a nationally-integrated research design although this must be preceded by experimental evaluation of different sampling designs (159-75). In this vein of evaluation A Voorrips, D P Gifford & A J Ammerman discuss stratified sampling strategy for excavation and the computer simulations used to test it (227-61). The use of sampling in various contexts is shown in a series of papers - at Oronsay (W Peacock, 177-90), Dorchester-on-Thames (M Jones, 191-205), Chalton (T Champion, 207-25), Norwich (A Carter, 263-77) and Ipswich (K Wade, 279-84). Part 3 has as its subject the sampling of archaeological assemblages. J F Cherry argues that sampling strategies have a crucial role in the evaluation of the large artefact and ecofact assemblages now being recovered during excavation by ensuring the efficient use of archaeological resources (293-320). Two papers are concerned with faunal remains, one on the general problems of optimizing information from such studies (C Gamble, 321-53) and the other on experiments with sampling techniques to obtain estimates of spatial variability in animal bone densities at Mingies Ditch (B Wilson, 355-61). P Fasham and M Monk describe experimental work to determine the minimum flotation needed to produce useful data on cereals (363-71). Large chipped-stone assemblages demand sampling techniques, and a series of experiments testing the effectiveness of a variety of sampling methods suggest that an accurate reflection of the parent population can be achievcd (R Torrence, 373-98). C Orton looks at quantitative approaches to pottery studies (399 402) and L Groube provides a concluding address. There is a glossary of the sampling terms used. D V C |
