An Interaction Model for Resource Implement Complexity Based on Risk and Number of Annual Moves

American Antiquity Vol/Iss. 73(4) Cambridge University Press Published In Pages: 599-625
By Read, Dwight

Hypothesis

The emphasis of a subsistence strategy on either land or aquatic animals will be associated with implement elaborateness.

Note

Variables proxying subsistence strategy: percentage of aquatic animals in diet (AQU), percentage of land animals in diet (LAN), percentage of aquatic and land animals in diet (TAA). Variables proxying implement elaborateness: total number of technounits (TTS), average number of technounits per subsistant (TTS/STS), total number of technounits summed over the most complex implement per implement type (MXT), average number of complex technounits per complex subsistant (CTTS/CSTS). Out of four regression models run on each elaborateness variable (for a total of sixteen models), AQU is included in a backward stepwise regression and the best subset against MXT, TAA is included in backward stepwise regressions against TTS and TTS/STS and a lasso regression against TTS, and LAN is not included in any models. Once interaction effects are considered, these variables are ruled out as having a significant effect on implement elaborateness.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Stepwise regression, best model analysis, Lasso regression, linear regressionNot supported (4 out of 16)UNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN