A settlement pattern scale of cultural complexity

McNett, Charles W., Jr.

A settlement pattern scale of cultural complexity

A Handbook of Method in Cultural Anthropology • Natural History Press • Garden City • Published In 1970 • Pages: 872-886 •

By McNett, Charles W., Jr.

Abstract

The author utilizes Beardsley et al.'s (1956) settlement pattern typology to develop a five-rank scale of cultural complexity. The scale was developed using 30 traits converted into categorical form. The scale is designed for use by archaeologists to infer or presume the existence of certain nonmaterial cultural traits in a given society.

Note

Study uses a random sample of 48 cultures.

Samples
Sample Used	Coded Data	Comment
Ethnographic Reports
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)
compendium of coded data

Hypotheses (1)
Hypothesis	Supported
A 5-rank ordinal scale of cultural complexity, derived from settlement pattern typology, is presented (in increasing order of complexity): band, village, town, city and state. Linear regression analysis demonstrates an almost perfect relationship between settlement patterns and the average number of complex traits each culture possesses (872, 877)	Supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas Christina Carolus

A settlement pattern scale of cultural complexity

A Handbook of Method in Cultural Anthropology • Natural History Press • Garden City • Published In 1970 • Pages: 872-886 • Cite

By McNett, Charles W., Jr.

Abstract

Note

Samples

Hypotheses (1)

A Handbook of Method in Cultural Anthropology • Natural History Press • Garden City • Published In 1970 • Pages: 872-886 •