Formally defining the time-space-archaeological culture relation: problems and prospects

• DOI: 10.19282/ac.28.1.2017.06
• Publication Date: 2017-01-01
• Authors: Sorin Hermon; Franco Niccolucci
• Keywords: http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85006507; 930.10285 Archeologia – Applicazioni informatiche (comprende: tecniche di datazione); http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh89003285; Statistics; Theoretical and methodological problems; 930

Locating archaeological cultures in time and space is a major challenge of archaeolog- ical research. Despite more than century scientific research archaeology, satisfactory solution has yet to be proposed. Past attempts look into the problem focused on sharpening the definition types material culture artefacts, accurate chronological dating of such objects, various probabilistic methods or GIS solution for defining time-space borders of cultures. However, proposed approaches did not fully consider how the nature their consequent geographic positioning play a crucial role assigning spatio-temporal borders. We propose shift operating logical paradigm from crisp, Aristotelian-based logic, fuzzy our opinion more suitable reasoning archaeology. also introduce rough sets theory deal with Both concepts have, in opinion, substantial advantages over traditional algebra logic rules (implicitly) applied so far.