Some notes regarding distributional analysis of spatial data

In: Posluschny, A. ; Lambers, K. ; Herzog, I. (Hrsgg.): Layers of Perception. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Berlin, 2.-6. April 2007. Koll. Vor- u. Frühgesch. 10. Bonn 2008 282 (Abstract)

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Abstract

The purpose of geostatistics and other quantitative spatial analysis methods is the characterization of the processes having generated the spatial distribution of archaeological data. In this paper1 we investigate whether such methods can be used to distinguish the regularity or randomness of the social event or events having generated the observed spatial distribution. Our hypothesis is that only statistically significant deviations from spatial randomness can be interpreted as intentional clustering. Archaeological data distributions are best characterized in terms of spatial processes which are symmetrical around a central mean.