Find combination

The combination of finds is one of the basics of creating a relative chronology in archeology .

The approach is based on two assumptions: Firstly, numerous types of finds such as fibulae , ceramics, etc. are subject to changes in fashion, so objects of the same archaeological type are roughly the same age. Second, objects that are regularly combined in closed finds are largely simultaneous.

The spectrum of finds of the objects that are typically socialized with one another change over the course of time, thus making it possible to observe the chronological succession of finds ("types") and closed find complexes.

A common means of showing these relationships are "combination tables" which give an overview of the closed finds, the types and the occurrence of the types in the closed finds. In sensibly prepared tables, each "closed find" (a grave, a settlement pit, etc.) should contain at least two types, and each of the types should be represented in at least two closed finds - this is the only way to actually produce usable combinations.

Then the table should be ordered; A good order can be recognized by a largely diagonalized matrix, i. H. the markings for the combinations pile up along the diagonal, while the other edge fields are largely empty. A well diagonalized table usually reflects the chronological sequence of the complexes and types. Such an order of the tables can be carried out by hand, but in many cases mathematical order methods are used, which are known under the terms seriation or correspondence analysis .