Abstract
The use of minimum number of individuals (MNI) in the analysis of mammal archaeofaunal assemblages has received intense criticism for its derived nature and its dependence of biasing variables. Some authors have argued that similar taxonomic variability as documented by MNI can be achieved with other less biased measuring units, such as number of identified specimens (NISP) and derivates thereof. The present study is the first experimentally controlled test that shows the degree of bias of estimates of MNI and NISP by different analysts. It shows that the margins of error of both measuring units are independent and that MNI can be more accurately estimated than NISP, despite its “derived” inferential nature.
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Notes
The causal argument for the NISP and MNI correlation has been explored, but never was effectively related in any empirical way, that is, using experimental or ethnoarchaeological samples of known parameters, by other researchers prior to Bartram (1993). Studying how measuring units correlate in archaeological assemblages, where the original parameters of each of these measuring units are unknown and only inferred with a potential bias, is epistemically different from carrying out such comparisons and interpretations with assemblages where the original values are known and the samples used are under complete control. This can only be made through careful experimental analysis. Such type of control cannot be found in archaeological assemblages.
A scientific analysis epistemically refers to any hypothesis-testing approach that involves using referential frameworks where the causal parameters are experimentally reproduced and known (Bunge 1998).
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Acknowledgements
I am extremely thankful to T.R. Pickering and J. Yravedra for their very useful comments in an earlier draft of this paper.
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Domínguez-Rodrigo, M. Critical review of the MNI (minimum number of individuals) as a zooarchaeological unit of quantification. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 4, 47–59 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-011-0082-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-011-0082-z