Unit Book A16

The Courtyard of the Tupkish Palace - Version 2

A16 Synthetic View / Introduction / Essays

Distributional analysis of ETC sherds

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Introduction

As an example of a data-based narrative I offer here an analysis of the ditribution of Early Trans-Caucasian sherds in unit A16.

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Sorted by sherd

ETC

stratum

phase

date

feature #

feature definition

q215-p73

s50-AAH

h9cAAH

modern

f82

topsoil

q314-p5

s235-AAH

h6mAAH

late Mari

f131

accumulation in doorway

q515-p73

s270-AAH

h6cAAH

Shamshi-Adad

f183

fill in pit

q525-p73

s315-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f178

sherd lens in dump

q694-p75

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q711-p11

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q812-p74

s330-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f266

accumulation

q837-p25

s380-AAH

h5cAAH

Atal-shen (Ur III)

f313

layer

q863-p72

s490-AAH

h4mAAH

Tar'am-Agade (OAkk)

f315

layer

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Sorted by feature

ETC

stratum

phase

date

feature #

feature definition

q812-p74

s330-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f266

accumulation

q314-p5

s235-AAH

h6mAAH

late Mari

f131

accumulation in doorway

q515-p73

s270-AAH

h6cAAH

Shamshi-Adad

f183

fill in pit

q863-p72

s490-AAH

h4mAAH

Tar'am-Agade (OAkk)

f315

layer

q837-p25

s380-AAH

h5cAAH

Atal-shen (Ur III)

f313

layer

q525-p73

s315-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f178

sherd lens in dump

q215-p73

s50-AAH

h9cAAH

modern

f82

topsoil

q694-p75

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q711-p11

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

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Sorted by stratum

ETC

stratum

phase

date

feature #

feature definition

q711-p11

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q694-p75

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q215-p73

s50-AAH

h9cAAH

modern

f82

topsoil

q314-p5

s235-AAH

h6mAAH

late Mari

f131

accumulation in doorway

q515-p73

s270-AAH

h6cAAH

Shamshi-Adad

f183

fill in pit

q525-p73

s315-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f178

sherd lens in dump

q812-p74

s330-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f266

accumulation

q837-p25

s380-AAH

h5cAAH

Atal-shen (Ur III)

f313

layer

q863-p72

s490-AAH

h4mAAH

Tar'am-Agade (OAkk)

f315

layer

Back to top: Distributional analysis of ETC sherds

Sorted by phase

ETC

stratum

phase

date

feature #

feature definition

q863-p72

s490-AAH

h4mAAH

Tar'am-Agade (OAkk)

f315

layer

q837-p25

s380-AAH

h5cAAH

Atal-shen (Ur III)

f313

layer

q525-p73

s315-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f178

sherd lens in dump

q812-p74

s330-AAH

h5hAAH

contraction (Isin-Larsa)

f266

accumulation

q515-p73

s270-AAH

h6cAAH

Shamshi-Adad

f183

fill in pit

q314-p5

s235-AAH

h6mAAH

late Mari

f131

accumulation in doorway

q215-p73

s50-AAH

h9cAAH

modern

f82

topsoil

q694-p75

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

q711-p11

s10-AAH

h9sAAH

modern

f257

topsoil

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Singularity and big data

What we have called the “dignity of the fragment” emerges crearly from this case of distributional analysis that I have illustrated using the ceramics of unit A16.It is not only that we are dealing with only nine sherds out of almost 60,000 in this unit. Even more important is the fact that for each of these sherds one obtains a full stratigraphic and typological description, which, in the case of A16q314-p4 (highlighted in the chart above), includes detailed photographs that illusrate in detail the nature of this particular Early Trans-Caucasian ware.

Big data should not be understood simply as massive amounts of raw data. The size of the total mass does matter (in our case, almost 60,000 sherds). But what is just as important is (a) the degree of detailed categorizaion that applies to each element, and (b) the ability to maintain the singularity of each element of this mass. Through the function of digital discourse as we understand it, this singularity allows one to reach at any moment the most minute detail, which would otherwise be lost in the anonymous vortex of statistical comuputations.

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