Determinants of gender and age in graves tarnobrzeg lusatian culture in the light of statistical analysis/Wyznaczniki płci i wieku w grobach tarnobrzeskiej kultury łużyckiej w świetle analiz statystycznych

Abstract

Detailed description of the grant project (Preludiun) adopted for funding by the Narodowe Centrum Nauki: Dec-2016/23 / N / HS3 / 00666. The research objective of the presented project is making comprehensive statistical analyses in order to check whether it is possible to discover any objects which could be considered as determinants of gender and age in the cemeteries of Tarnobrzeg Lusatian culture. The primary objective of the project is to gather comprehensive information about objects found in burial places of Tarnobrzeg Lusatian culture and to contrast it with anthropological data. Of course, apart from the objects themselves we will also be interested in their form and size. Among other, the analyses are going to be made to verify whether the size of urns was affected by the age and sex of the dead. It is also necessary to verify whether the type of urn affected also the issues we are interested in. We will also analyse the bowls which were the covers of the urns, as well as any attachments placed inside and next to urns. Other approach is required for the remaining objects made of bronze, iron, bone and glass, as in such case we will be more interested in the form of objects. Another issue to be verified is if there was a correlation between the particular objects such as that bronze objects were more frequently placed next to certain types of urns. And, of course, how it correlated with age and sex of the dead. As for the methodology, the statistical analyses are going to be used as foremost. At the beginning, we are going to examine mutual connections of characteristics with age and gender as well as interactions between all the measured characteristics. In the study we are going to use the correlation theory (Spearman factor, chi^2 test for quality characteristics and contingency factor) and tests adapted to data and showing the differentiation of quantitative characteristics (e.g. vessel dimensions) by gender and age (analysis of variance or its non-parametric equivalents, Mann-Whitney tests, Median test, Kruskal-Wallis test). Then we are going to use models of regression properly matched to the type of data (e.g. logistic regression (logit function). And we are going create algorithms enabling identification of gender and age of deceased persons on the assumption that we have information about the selected features. We are going to use quantitative (e.g. size of vessels) and qualitative (e.g. types of cinerary urns) data in analyses. Among data there will also be so called data in rangable scale (how rich the burial was, how many bronze elements were there) and binary data ( e.g. gender, occurrence of adornments). Using these methods we are going also to check if there was any relation between certain objects and the richness of burial which would indicate to us their prestigious importance. We are also going to proceed with spatial analysis of necropolises using the Quantum GIS 2.18 software, and we are going to use the statistical data analysis based on selected concentration coefficients (e.g. Lorenz coefficient). Impact of the expected results on the development of science, civilization and society The value of the project is primarily the result of a new approach to the funeral sources, which has not been implemented in the proposed form in any of the local groups of the entire Lusatian cultural circle. In this context the case study of one cultural group may have a great importance for the whole cultural province of Central Europe and a part of Western Europe. Status of knowledge of funeral materials of Tarnobrzeg Lusatian culture is so advanced, that allows for a more in-depth studies using quantitative methods (in this case, developed statistics and comparative analyses). It is to be hoped that the results achieved will allow to: 1. Developing a new direction of analysing and drawing conclusions in reference to mass funeral sources of poorly drawn formal characteristics (what characterises all urn communities). 2. Testing statistical methods on large series of historical materials, together with establishing their suitability for drawing conclusions in the field of funeral features and reconstruction of a model of social relations. 3. Establishing relevant (significant) characteristics of historical material, statistically validated, important from the point of view of sex and/or age of the dead. 4. Formulating clear conclusions regarding organization of the society in the Tarnobrzeg Lusatian culture on the basis of funeral materials of micro scale (individual sites), meso scale (neighbouring necropolises) and macro scale (set of all cemeteries).