Zimmermann Andreas, Hilpert Johanna, Wendt Karl Peter
Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Weyertal 125, D 50932 Köln, Germany.
Hum Biol. 2009 Apr;81(2-3):357-80. doi: 10.3378/027.081.0313.
Abstract We describe a combination of methods applied to obtain reliable estimations of population density using archaeological data. The combination is based on a hierarchical model of scale levels. The necessary data and methods used to obtain the results are chosen so as to define transfer functions from one scale level to another. We apply our method to data sets from western Germany that cover early Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman, and Merovingian times as well as historical data from AD 1800. Error margins and natural and historical variability are discussed. Our results for nonstate societies are always lower than conventional estimations compiled from the literature, and we discuss the reasons for this finding. At the end, we compare the calculated local and global population densities with other estimations from different parts of the world.
摘要 我们描述了一种结合多种方法的方案，该方案利用考古数据来获得对人口密度的可靠估计。这种结合基于一个尺度层级的分层模型。为了定义从一个尺度层级到另一个尺度层级的传递函数，我们选择了用于获得结果的必要数据和方法。我们将我们的方法应用于来自德国西部的数据集，这些数据集涵盖了新石器时代早期、铁器时代、罗马时期和墨洛温王朝时期，以及公元1800年的历史数据。我们讨论了误差范围以及自然和历史变异性。我们针对非国家社会得出的结果总是低于从文献中汇编的传统估计值，并且我们讨论了这一发现的原因。最后，我们将计算得出的局部和全球人口密度与世界其他地区的其他估计值进行了比较。
