Comparative Archaeology Database, University of Pittsburgh
URL: http://www.cadb.pitt.edu
Email: cadb@pitt.edu

Yahuay Alta Community Dataset
Kirk E. Costion

Excavation Data

The data files EXDATA.TXT and EXDATA.XLS provide raw artifact counts and weights for excavation contexts within the Yahuay Alta community. The data corresponds to Table C.1. (pp. 456) of the dissertation associated with this dataset. EXDATA.TXT is an ASCII text file; EXDATA.XLS contains the same data in the form of an Excel spreadsheet. Each line represents one context. There are 2901 lines in the text file, each with 8 variables separated by commas. The variables are, in the following order:

1

Unit. Refers to an excavation unit. Detailed descriptions of Units 1, 2, and 4 can be found on pp. 171-172 of the dissertation. Detailed descriptions of Units 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 can be found on pp. 210-212.

2

Area. The largest subdivision of units; areas were defined by natural differentiated sections of a unit.

3

Layer. Refers to the natural stratigraphic layers found in each individual unit. Detailed descriptions of the stratigraphy of each unit can be found for Units 1, 2, and 4 on pp. 172-174 and for Units 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 on pp. 212-215.

4

Quad. The smallest individual subdivision of Units. Quads consisted of 1x1 meter squares that formed a grid over each unit. These grids were numbered sequentially from left to right and from top to bottom, so Quad 1 was always the most northwesternly of the unit. The location of each Quad can be seen in the individual drawings of each unit, Figs. 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 6.2, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, and 6.11 of the dissertation associated with this dataset. All relevant Quads are shown for artifacts associated with multiple contexts.

5

Rasgo (Feature). Refers to individual features found in each Unit. These features are quite variable in size and shape. Descriptions of individual Rasgos can be found throughout Chapters 5 and 6 of the dissertation associated with this datset, and on the individual drawings of each unit (Figs. 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 6.2, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, and 6.11.)

6

Material. Material designated "FLOT" is a 1-liter soil sample which was taken for microbotanical analysis.

7

Count. The number of artifacts of a given type within that context

8

Weight. The weight in grams of all artifacts of a given type within that context.

The first line of the ASCII text file, for example, looks like this:

1,B,A,20,-,Botanical,-,1.8

This indicates that the artifacts were recovered from Unit 1, Area B, Layer A, Quad 20. There was no associated rasgo. The artifact is botanical material weighing a total of 1.8 grams. Because it is botanical material, there is no associated count.

The last, or 2901st, line of the ASCII text file is:

8,C,A,3,-,Chalk,1,0.4

This indicates that the artifacts were recovered from Unit 8, Area C, Layer A, Quad 3. There was no associated rasgo. The artifact is chalk weighing a total of 0.4 grams. Because it is chalk, there is no associated count.

Click here to download the file EXDATA.TXT (78 KB) or the file EXDATA.XLS (389 KB).


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