Working with Imperfection in Archaeology

This open access book delves into the management of data imperfection, a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of archaeological research. By bringing together diverse voices and expertise, the book offers a pioneering examination of how researchers across Europe deal with the challenges posed by incomplete, fragmented or ambiguous data in archaeology. One of the most problematic issues when working with humanistic data, and specifically with archaeological data, is their imperfection. The data is ambiguous, partial, imprecise, uncertain. This imperfection, which can be intrinsic to the data themselves or be generated later with its processing, makes it difficult to produce reliable results. In recent years, some researchers have become increasingly interested in the need to address in their research, especially those using databases, the problem of data imperfection and all the implications that this entails.

This volume bring together researchers who are or have worked on the imperfection of archaeological data in its broadest sense, from theoretical reflections to proposals for managing the imperfection or part of it (uncertainty, inaccuracy, incompleteness, etc.) in any chronological period and application, both during the collection of data in the field or its processing in the laboratory. The book comprises 12 chapters, in addition to an introduction and a conclusion. It brings together contributions from European researchers from various academic levels, providing a rich tapestry of insights into the topic. The chapters span a broad historical range, featuring case studies that cover periods from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages.