6.1 The elements: features and items
6.2 Archaeological typology
6.3 Formal analysis of single elements: morphology
      6.3.1 Three types of morphological analysis
      6.3.2 Principles of compositional analysis
      6.3.3 Principles of manufacturing analysis
      6.3.4 Principles of functional analysis
6.4 Formal analysis of assemblages: taxonomy
      6.4.1 The notion of assemblage
      6.4.2 Patterned ordering of attributes within assemblages
      6.4.3 Structuring principle
      6.4.4 Beyond formal analysis
      6.4.5 The coherence of the whole
6.5 Typology and stratigraphy

6.1 The elements: features and items

1. On the grammatical aspects of typological analysis see the relevant section of G A R.

2. Rouse 1972 Introduction Prehistory makes an important effort at systematizing the conceptual and physical actions within the discipline of prehistory. Particularly significant is his contribution to the definition of a chain of concepts and the systematic order in the process of the data collection, its organization and interpretation. However most of the criticism following his work notices two main issues: 1) Rouse perceives organization and interpretation of the archaeological record into a top-down approach following a pre-defined system that cannot be effectively applied to any archaeological context and 2) his classification strategy on classes - types - taxonomy, however neatly constructed, includes some misleading concepts. The equalization of culture, artifacts and people limits the discussion on classification into too tight a scheme within which no attention is paid to the individual choices, expressions, expertise, and the background of the artisan.

   – [ Esmeralda Agolli, March 2014]

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6.2 Archaeological typology

1. Typology, e.g. Hayden 1984 Emic Types; papers in Whallon & Brown 1982 Essays.

   – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

2. Obrien & Lyman 2002 Seriation Stratigraphy And Index Fossils - seriation as replicable.

   – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

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6.3.2 Principles of compositional analysis

1. For full description of data and visually determined typologies, see Krieger 1944 Typological Concept.

   – [ Laerke Recht, July 2016]

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6.3.3 Principles of manufacturing analysis

1. The ground-breaking study on manufacturing (in early Paleolithic) is Wynn 1989 Evolution.

2. For a recent study that applies new technology to manufacturing and shows its cognitive implications see Pizzeghello &al 2015 De-constructing.

3. For the concept of agency in archaeology, see Gardner 2008 Agency.

   – [ Laerke Recht, March 2016]

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6.3.4 Principles of functional analysis

1. The philosophical concepts that define function/s see Wright 1972 Functions.

   – [ Esmeralda Agolli, October 2014]

2. The tendency to interpret anything “unknown” as ritual or cultic: Barker 1999 Encyclopedia, p. 747.

   – [ Laerke Recht, March 2016]

3. Assigning function, Trebsche 2009 Form Follow Function.

   – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

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6.4.1 The notion of assemblage

1. Cf. Lucas 2013 Archaeology And New Objects on his understanding of assemblage.

   – [ Laerke Recht, October 2015]

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6.5 Typology and stratigraphy

1. For the different roles and implications of typology and stratigraphy in establishing chronological sequences and in the perception of time in archaeology, see Mc Glade 1999 Times Of History, Mishra 1999 Indian Stone Age Chronology.

   – [ Laerke Recht, October 2015]

2. For gender bias in the methods of typology and stratigraphy, see Mc Glade 1999 Times Of History.

   – [ Laerke Recht, October 2015]

3. Keeping levels of analysis distinct: Obrien & Lyman 2002 Seriation Stratigraphy And Index Fossils.

   – [ Laerke Recht, August 2016]

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