Survivorship Bias
When only durable artifacts survive to be studied
Understanding Survivorship Bias
Survivorship bias in archaeology refers to the tendency to focus on artifacts and structures that have survived through time, while ignoring those that have deteriorated.
How it affects archaeological research
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Examples in archaeological practice
- Stone tools survive while wooden ones decay
- Pottery remains while textiles disintegrate
- Stone buildings are studied more than wooden structures
Addressing this bias
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