Quantification is all about providing a document that allows the reader to 
reconstruct in their mind the artifacts observed.
One could measure and draw each in place or quantify them using something 
more than counting the bits. I would consider
a report that only provided primary function assessments and counts of 
pieces of artifacts to be woefully deficient to the point of
being almost useless.

Conrad

-----Original Message----- 
From: paul courtney
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 8:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Counting bits

Geoff

I often tell clients they are paying (well underpaying) for the ability
to judge significance whether it be pot, metalwork or documents. Its
knowing when to spend time on something. Part ability, but experience
also helps. As for your 23 vessels i would want to know the
geographical. stratigraphical, chronological and social context of every
piece and navigability of adjacent rivers through time before making any
judgement. Anyway back to my copper alloy objects as I am avoiding the
wedding.

paul


On 29/04/2011 12:39, geoff carver wrote:
> Alas, no.
> I was talking with someone the other day about an MA project someone did 
> on
> the Terra sigilata found in Sweden. She told me that something like 87% of
> it all came from a single vessel (which sounds kind of impressive), so I
> asked how many pieces of TS had been found in Sweden: something like 23.
> Hmm. Great. One import vessel, the rest carried over in ballast? Who
> knows...
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> mostly there is no time for such stuff in commercial archaeology.
>