The Problem with Density Values in Archaeological Analysis: A Case Study from Tortoise Cave, Western Cape, South Africa

This paper attempts to explain the generating factors behind density values of materials recovered from prehistoric archaeological excavations. Various categories of archaeological remains from Tortoise Cave were analysed for this purpose. Densities offer limited interpretative power when rates of deposition in smallscale excavations are unknown and only poor chronological control is available. It is suggested that, when evaluated interactively, three parameters (area of settlement, rates of accumulation of unfinished ostrich eggshell beads and jinished beads and pendants, as well as rates of accumulation of domestic debris) can provide useful insights as to how densities were generated in archaeological contexts. Each indicator can provide meaningful estimates of the relative size of visiting groups, rime spent at the site and intensity of site occupation. *Received August 1994, revised January 1995