Archaeology Calculator

Archaeology Artifact Density Calculator

function calculateArtifactDensity() { var numArtifacts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("numArtifacts").value); var surveyArea = parseFloat(document.getElementById("surveyArea").value); var areaUnit = document.getElementById("areaUnit").value; var unitText = ""; if (isNaN(numArtifacts) || numArtifacts < 0) { document.getElementById("densityResult").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number of artifacts (0 or more)."; return; } if (isNaN(surveyArea) || surveyArea <= 0) { document.getElementById("densityResult").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid surveyed area (greater than 0)."; return; } var density = numArtifacts / surveyArea; switch (areaUnit) { case "sq_meters": unitText = "artifacts per square meter (m²)"; break; case "hectares": unitText = "artifacts per hectare (ha)"; break; case "sq_kilometers": unitText = "artifacts per square kilometer (km²)"; break; default: unitText = "artifacts per unit area"; } document.getElementById("densityResult").innerHTML = "Artifact Density: " + density.toFixed(2) + " " + unitText; } // Initial calculation on page load for default values window.onload = calculateArtifactDensity;

Understanding Artifact Density in Archaeology

Artifact density is a fundamental concept in archaeological survey and excavation. It refers to the number of artifacts found within a specific unit of surveyed or excavated area. This metric provides crucial insights into human activity patterns, site boundaries, and the intensity of occupation at a particular location.

Why is Artifact Density Important?

• Site Identification: High artifact densities often indicate the presence of an archaeological site, helping archaeologists delineate its extent.
• Activity Areas: Variations in density across a site can pinpoint different activity areas, such as living spaces, workshops, or refuse dumps.
• Occupation Intensity: Higher densities can suggest more intensive or longer-term occupation, while lower densities might indicate transient use or specialized activities.
• Comparative Analysis: Comparing artifact densities between different sites or different periods within the same site can reveal changes in population, resource use, or cultural practices.
• Sampling Strategies: Understanding density helps in designing effective sampling strategies for future excavations, ensuring representative data collection.

How to Use the Archaeology Artifact Density Calculator

This calculator simplifies the process of determining artifact density. Here's a breakdown of the inputs:

• Number of Artifacts Found: This is the total count of artifacts (e.g., pottery sherds, lithic flakes, bone fragments) recovered from your survey or excavation unit.
• Surveyed Area: This is the total area (e.g., a trench, a survey transect, or a defined grid square) from which the artifacts were collected.
• Area Unit: Select the appropriate unit for your surveyed area (Square Meters, Hectares, or Square Kilometers). The calculator will provide the density in artifacts per your chosen unit.

Once you input these values and click "Calculate Artifact Density," the tool will instantly provide the density, expressed as artifacts per the selected unit of area.

Examples of Artifact Density in Practice

Let's consider a few scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Field Survey
  An archaeological team conducts a pedestrian survey over 5 hectares and finds 150 artifacts.
  Calculation: 150 artifacts / 5 hectares = 30 artifacts per hectare. This relatively low density might suggest a dispersed activity area or a short-term camp.
• Scenario 2: Excavation Unit
  During the excavation of a 10 square meter trench, 850 pottery sherds are recovered.
  Calculation: 850 artifacts / 10 m² = 85 artifacts per square meter. This high density could indicate a concentrated refuse deposit or a heavily utilized domestic area.
• Scenario 3: Regional Study
  A large-scale regional survey covers 2 square kilometers and identifies 2500 lithic tools.
  Calculation: 2500 artifacts / 2 km² = 1250 artifacts per square kilometer. This density helps in understanding the overall distribution and intensity of prehistoric land use across the region.

By using this calculator, archaeologists can quickly quantify and compare artifact distributions, aiding in the interpretation of past human behavior and landscape use.