Maney Publishing

AN AUTOMATED COMPUTER TECHNIQUE FOR VESSEL FORM ANALYSIS

Author(s): Solveig A. Turpin and James A. Neely
Source: Plains Anthropologist, Vol. 22, No. 78, Part 1 (November 1977), pp. 313-319
Published by: Maney Publishing on behalf of the Plains Anthropological Society
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AN AUTOMATED COMPUTERTECHNIQUE
FORVESSEL FORMANALYSIS
by
Solveig A. Turpin
James A. Neely

ABSTRACT
A
ceramic

computerized
measurement

for machine

method
from

assisted

two-dimensional

repro

ductions is given and its applicability in canonical

correlation

analysis

is tested.

INTRODUCTION
In a recent edition of this journal (Turpin
et. al. 1976) a report was
presented on a
vessels
statistical analysis of fifty Caddoan
from the Ben McKinney site, Marion County,
as 42MR12
in the Texas
Texas; designated
Survey system. An attempt
Archeological
was made
through the use of canonical
correlation analysis (Veldman 1967, 1974) to
assess
the relationship between decorative
and vessel
elements,
techniques,
design
in that
form. This met with limited success
certain recognizable and characteristic forms
on the canonical
were delineated
variates
certain smaller vessels,
(Fig. 1). However,
notably bottle forms typed as Taylor Engraved
(Suhm and Jelks 1962) were felt to have been
inadequately defined as a result of being
overshadowed
by the physically larger vessels
and the numerical predominance of carinated
bowls in the sample.
Therefore, inorder to remove the effect of
size and orient the analysis more specifically
toward shape or form, two new complemen
tary procedures were initiated and tested.
Improved Method

of Data Recording

economical
First, a more
rapid and
was
for
technique
developed
measuring
ceramic
vessels
and
restorable
complete
along the polar coordinate axes used as form
variables incanonical analysis (Fig. 3).
A FORTRAN program written by Jerold R.
Johnson (1976) of the University of Texas at

Austin, which utilized the Rand tablet in the

of projectile point
classification
automatic
was
and
revised
forms,
adapted to accommo
date ceramic vessels (see Appendix 1).
The Rand Tablet used for this project was
manufactured
by the Data Equipment Com
1010A. This off-line
Grafacon
model
pany,
device consists basically of a flat glass screen,
a photoelectric sensitive stylus, a keyboard,
for
and a foot pedal
triggering device
A
continuous
the
point
stylus.
activating
data points are
is optional wherein
mode
recorded from the stylus as it ismoved across
the screen.
point
Ideally, this continuous
to record design
mode
could be adapted
motifs as well as vessel form.
for the entry of
The keyboard allows
numbers,
pertinent data such as sequence
scale, provenience codes, and key symbols to
serve as diagnostics to the decoding program.
in the
A Cartesian coordinate grid, embedded
glass screen, divides the X and Y axes into
.25 mm. by .25 mm. Each
1024 units, each
the
activation of the foot switch causes
coordinates of the stylus point to be read from
the screen and punched onto an eight-level
paper tape in a special binary code. The
FORTRAN
program translates the character
and
punched paper tape into integer numbers
mathematical
the
opera
necessary
performs
tions to compute the recorded measurements.
Masking operations within the body of the
program translate the keyboard entries of
into integer
numbers and scale
sequence
numbers. The scale of size can be altered to fit
the needs of the sample. For example, in the
first tests of the technique all scale data were
entered simply as integer multipliers. In later
the scale was modified to real
applications,
different ratios,
numbers to accommodate

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Loadings
O

.1

.2

.3

.5

Canonical

Variate

Canonical

Variate

.6

.7

.8

.9

1.0

IA

3A

.1

Canonical

Canonical

.2

.3

.4

.5

Variate

Variate

.6

.7

.8

.9

1.0

2A

4A

Figure I

Fig.

1. Original

Canonical

Variates

such as 4 to 5. It is a simple process to modify

the imme
deletes
character
(ERR) which
the program to read stylus hits for scale so
diately preceding punched characters.
that the multiplier can be calculated from line
statistical tests dictate the
The proposed
format of stylus hits. A canonical
drawings with a known scale of reduction or
analysis
from photographs as long as a standard scale
along polar axes required 11 stylus hits to
marker is included and shown in the print.
record the X and Y coordinates of the 10 rays
The specific order of the measuring
and
formula for the
(Fig. 3). The mathematical
is dictated by the data.
recording procedure
computation of these axes allows for the free
The keyboard of the Grafacon was used to positioning of the line drawing or photograph
on the Rand tablet screen. An outline array of
([) open bracket,
punch a special character,
to signify the initiation of a case;
axes radiating from the juncture of a right
i.e., one
vessel. A sequence
intervals was drawn on
number, three digits in angle at 10 degree
this particular program, followed by a space,
translucent Albanene
drafting paper. When
on
line drawing or photo
the
then a two digit scale number, followed by
superimposed
the vessel at a
the eleven stylus
another space,
the
of
vessel,
bisecting
precede
graph
and define the 90 degree angle to the rim, the radiant lines
"hits" that actually measure
form of the vessel (Fig. 3). An end bracket (])> clearly mark 10 degree intervals of the vessel
keyboard character signifies termination of a
perimeter. The stylus is in turn applied at point
causes the X(1)Y(1), X(2)Y(2), throughX(11)Y(11) (Fig.
case. Any error in this sequence
to the
program to print an error message
3). The formulaV(X(D-X(J))2 + (Y(I)-V(JJ2
or
entries
the coordinate
Erroneous
length of the axis.
keyboard
stylus
computes
teletype.
hits can be erased by punching the keyboard
This multiplied times the constant (.025 cm.)

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Loadings
O

.)

.2

.3

.4

.5

J6

.7

.8

1,0 0

.9

.3

.5

.6

.7

.8

.9

1.0

+
Canonical

Variate

IB

Canonical

Variate

2B

+
Canonical

3B

Variate

Canonical

Variate

4B

Figure 2

Fig. 2. Shape

Oriented

and the scale

the axis to
measurements
are

recorded

Canonical

Variates

gives the centimeter length of

the millimeter. These
actual
are relayed to the teletype and
on

magnetic

tape.

The

can also be punched

onto
measurements
or
when
desired.
cards
computer
immediately
Our procedure was to edit the tape by means
of the teletype unit or cathode
ray terminal
errors and make
all
for possible
(CRT)
before commanding
corrections
necessary
the computer to punch the data cards.
To allow analysis of vessel shape, regard
less of the range of size within the sample,
and eliminate biases in favor of large numbers
of extremely small or large vessels, the actual
are then each converted
measurements
to
to
relative
the
the
of
proportions
height
vessel. Each axis' actual length is divided by
the actual
thus
height of the vessel,
effectively setting the vessel height (polar
coordinate 10) at 100 percent.
While this program is designed specifically

and
polar axes measurements
it
could
easily be
proportional measurements,
converted to compute other relatively gross
to obtain

measurements

such

as

volume.

As noted, this computerized method may

be utilized with scale drawings as well as
photographic prints or transparencies having
a scale of size included. This provides access
to collections not readily available for direct
of
the primary advantage
study. However,
this technique lies in its time-saving qualities.
For example, data collecting and processing
involved in the original study
procedures
(Turpin et. al. 1976) took approximately 5
hours. This
length of time included the
measurements
taken from scale drawings, the
to compute
the actual
time necessary
and the time required to
measurements,
transfer this data to punched computer cards.
the automated
described
process
Using
with
the
of
similar
addition
herein,
procedures
the computation
of proportional measure

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_
X?VI)_X(2U2)

X(3)y(3)

^^^^^
^^^^^
Rgure 3
Fig. 3. Polar Coordinate

Grid

on the same
ments, were
accomplished
sample in 1 hour and 10 minutes. This time
not only the generation
of a
included,
data
card
but
the
additional
deck,
punched
step of recording the data on a magnetic
storage tape to facilitate data retrieval as well
as the correction and addition of information
of the teletype or cathode
ray
by means
between
the
terminal (CRT). Comparisons
measurements
human and machine-produced
showed
less than a 2 mm. discrepancy at the
most.

Biasing

the Canonical

In order

to obtain

Analysis Toward
a shape-oriented

Shape
analysis

as a complementary addition to the potentially

size-biased
canonical
correlation
original
the computation
of the propor
analysis,
was essential. These
tionate measurements
proportionate

measurements

and
roots, and
1B, the most
significant
between canonical variates 2A and 3B. These
variates delineate the form of the carinated
in the sample. However,
in the first
bowls
analysis (A) the characteristic design elements
of the carinated bowls (Ripley Engraved and
Taylor Engraved) were
strongly correlated
with their characteristic forms on variates 1A
and 2A. In the modified analysis, these design
elements diffused across variates 1B, 3B, and
4B. The distinguishing design element be
tween 1B and 3B was the occurence of red or
white paint. As white paint occurs solely on
in our sample and red paint
Ripley Engraved
on Taylor Engraved
these
predominantly
variates could be said to separate these types.
the majority of the vessels them
However,
selves were found to correlate most signifi
cantly with variates 1B and 4B, but there were
no strong consistent
associations
between
either type and these variates.
The graphic representation of variates 3A
and 4B clearly
illustrates the results of
elimination of size as a variable in the analysis.
the extreme difference in size the
Despite
conformation of these two variates is similar
and clearly outline the forms of two vessel
types, Harleton Applique and Bullard Brushed,
in our sample were all large jars. The
which
design elements of both these types also
loaded heavily on these variates. As was
noted above, design elements of the carinated
to variate 4B but
bowls also contributed
and Bullard
Harleton
Brushed
Applique
vessels were distinguished by their negative
correlation with variate 1B.
Similarly, the smallest vessel in the sample,
a miniature bowl did not contribute to any
in the first canonical
variate
analysis, but
loaded very heavily on variate 1B in the

were

substi

that
tuted for the actual measurements
in
the canonical variates shown
delineated
as
A
1
the
(hereafter
designated
Figure
variates) and the same canonical correlation
analysis (Veldman 1967, 1974) was repeated.
the vessel height had been set at
Because
a constant 100 percent itno longer functioned
as a variable. The 22 design elements and 9
were
trans
remaining form measurements
formed into 4 canonical variates or "roots'
(Fig. 2), with a significance greater than .05
(hereafter designated as the B variates).
A comparison between the graphic repre
sentations (Fig. 1 and 2) of the two analyses,
four statistically
both of which
produced
a similarity
in
roots, shows
significant
between canonical variates 1A
composition

second, shape-biased
analysis.
Canonical
variate 2B produced
the most
between
the
two ana
difference
significant
lyses. Most clearly delineated on this variate is
a type believed to have
Hodges
Engraved,
been traded into the site (Davis and Golden
with
the strongest
1960). Vessels
shape
to this variate were Hodges
correlations
and Simms
Belcher Engraved,
Engraved,
all imports to the area from the
Engraved,
north and west
(Dee Ann Story, personal
Within
the variate, these
communication).
types were differentiated by their correlations
roots. Simms
with
the other significant

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vessels correlated negatively with variate 4B,

Hodges
negatively with all 3 other variates,
and Belcher positively with design loadings on
variate 4B. One might then view variate 1B as
an "importation vector" that could delineate a
or
for certain shapes
cultural preference
The
element
attributes.
loading
design
design
most heavily on this rootwas the Jay element
(--O) but it is not common to all imported
vessels nor unique to these types.
in an
of this variate
The emergence
toward
oriented
shape suggests it is a
analysis
latent vector defined primarily by an under
lying cultural preference for certain forms in
trade

attributes would
distinctly unique
design
define a more significant variate.
We
feel that by utilizing both the actual
and proportional measurements
of ceramic
two perspectives
vessels,
may be gained.
Inclusion of the variable of size produced
more
definitive associations
between
the
design elements and forms of numerically
superior ceramic types in the sample. Elimi
nation of the size effect, through the use of
diffused the
measurements,
porportionate
numerically superior types across the canoni
cal variates allowing the minor ceramic types
to emerge.

ceramics.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The bottle forms we hoped to isolate can

be defined only through negative correlations
with all four significant variates. However, the
fifth root, which has a significance probability
less than .1000, reflected the bottle shape
numerical
greater
leading us to believe
of this form with more
representations

We wish to thank Jerold Johnson,

the writer of the
lithic measurement
for his coopera
original
program,
at
of Texas
tion, Dr. Joel D. Gunn of the University
San Antonio
for his critical comments
and Marge
and

JimKnox of the Universityof Texas at Austin Hybrid

Computer

Lab

for their assistance.

APPENDIX I
FORTRAN IV Program forCDC-6400/6600 Computer System, UniversityofTexas at Austin.

PROGRAM MAC(TTY,OUTPUT*POLAR,PROP,TAPEi?P0LAR<TAPE2?PR0P)
INTEGER BUFR (1500) ,SSC(5),X(11),Y(11),BITS(4),TTY
REAL K,PC(10),RA(10)
TTY-3LTTY
KOUNT-0
WRITE(TTY,10)
10 FORMAT(* START TAPE READER *)
REWIND TTY
CALL BELLC(3LITM,0,N)
JTYBINR FILLS
BUFFER WITH DATA FROM PAPER TAPE
NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR,150,3LTTY,l)
TO 15
IF(NCNAR,LTgl)GO
NCHAR"JTYBINR(BUFR(150),150,3LTTY,1)
TO 15
if(ncnar;lt*#i)go
NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(300)#150,3LTTY,1)
TO 15
IF(NCMAR,LT;i)GO
NCHAR*JTYBINR(BUFR(450),150,3LTTY,1)

IF(NCHARilT;i)GO

TO 15

NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(600),150,3LTTY,1)

IF(NCHAR;LT;i)GO TO 15

NCMARaJTYBINR(BUFR(750),150,3LTTY,1)

IF(NCHARlLTll)GO TO 15

NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(900),150,3LTTY,1)
TO 15
IF(NCHAR,LTi1)GO
NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(1050),150,3LTTY,1)

IF(NCHAR.LTll)GO TO 15

NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(1200),150,3LTTY,t)

IF(NCHAR;LT;i)GO TO 15

NCHAR?JTYBINR(BUFR(1350),150,3LTTY,1)
TO 15
IF(NCHAR.LT;i)GO
GO TO 300

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C
C

15 CALL BELLC(3tTTM#0,N)
THIS 30 DO LOOP ZEROES OUT ERRORS? THE, ERROR CODE IS 45B
DO 30 Ul#
1500
IF <BuFR(I);EQ,45B>20,30
20 BUFR(I)?0
IP ERROR IS KEYBOARD HIT,
ONE CHARACTER IS ZEROED!
IF ERROR IS
STYLUS HIT, FOUR CHARACTERS ARE ZEROED
IF( (BUFR( 1*1 )lAND', 100B).GT;0)22,24
% BUFR(I*2)?0
S BUFR(I*3)?0
S BUPR(I?4)?0
22 BUFR(I-1)?0

24 IF((BUFR(I?1)'AND;40B);6T;0)26,30

26

BUFRCI?1)*0

30 CONTINUE

WRITE(TTY#34)

SEQ SCA PR1 PR2

34 F0RMATC2/,*
PR10*,2/)
>R9

PR5

PR6 PR7 PR8

60
70

REWIND TTY
THIS 999 DO LOOP DECODES A LINE FROM BUFR AND WRITES IT BOTH TO
AN EXTERNAL FILE AND TO THE TELETYPE
DO 999 N?l,1500
ICNT?1
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CASE
OPEN BRACKET J (CODE 242B)
SIGNIFIES
IF(BUFR(N).EQ,2428)50,999
NSEQ?0
NUM?3
KOUNT?KOUNTfl
NSEQtNSEQ+l
N?N*1

80

IF(BUFR(N);EQf0)70.80
SSC(NSEQ)?(BUFR(N).ANDll7B)

90

N*N*frl

C
C
C
50

PR3 PR4

100

110
120
130

IF(NfGT;i500)GO

TO 300

IF(NSEQ;EQ;nUH)90,60

IF(N;gt11500)GO

TO 300

IP(BUFR(N)'.EQ90)90,100
CODE FOR SPACE MARKER (BETWEEN
TO 300
IF(BUFR(N)fNE,40B)GO
ICNT?ICNTtl
NUM?NUM*2

SEQUENCE

AND SCALE)

IS

40B

IF(ICNT;GT;2)110#60

DO 150
ICNT?1
N?N*1

M>1,11

IF(N;gt;1500)GO

TO 300

IF(BUFR(N)r.
EG)'.0)120,130
BITS(ICNT)?BUFR(N)
ICNT?ICNT*1

IF(lCNT;GTl4)140,120
140 BITS(l)?LSHIFT(BITS(l)iAND:37B,5)
BITS(3)?LSHIFT(BITS(3);AND#37B,5)

BITS(2)?BITS(2)lANDf37B
150
155
C
C

160

BITS(4)?BITS<4)fAND.37B
X(M)?BITS(l>fOR,BlTS(2)
Y(M)?BITS(3),0R.BITS(4)
CONTINUE
N?N+1
TO 300
IF(NtGT#t1500)GO
IF (BUFR (N).EQft 0)155,160
AN END BRACKET 1 AS CASE TERMINATOR
THE CODE 43B, SIGNIFIES
TO 300
IF(BUFR(N).NE?43B)G0
FOR RAND TABLET COORDINATES
K JS THE CENTIMETER MULTIPLIER
Kb.025

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SC FIGURES SCALE FROMKEYBOARDPUNCH

SC?(FL0AT(SSC(5)))/(FL0AT(S3C(4)))
LOOPS 170 AND 175 FIGURE POLAR COORDINATESAND PROPORTIONS

C
C

DO

170

I?2<11

FLOAT CONVERTS INTEGERS TO REAL NUMBERS

PC(J)?SQRT(FLOAT((X(I)pX(l)U*2t(Y(I)i.Y(n)**2))*K*8C

170 CONTINUE

WRITE(TTY,190)KOUNT,
(SSC(I),I?l?5)f
*,311,X,211,X,10F5,1)
FORMAT(/,13,*J
DO 175 I?l,10
RA(I)?(PC(I)/PC(10))*100

190

(PC (J) f*
J*l10)

175 CONTINUE

WRITE (TTY, 195) KOUNT# (SSC (I) < I?l, 5) f (RA (J) , J?l10)
*,311,X,211,
X,' 10F5; 1)
FORMAT(/,I3,*i
REWIND TTY
WRITE(1,210)(SSC(I),I?1,5),(PC(J),J?l,10)
WRITE(2,210)(SSC(I),I?i,5),(RA(J),J?1,10)
FORMAT(5I1,10F6.2)
GO TO 999
WRITE(TTY,310)KOUNT
ERROR ENCOUNTERED, MEASUREMENT NUMBER*,13)
FORMAT(/,*

195

210
300
310

REWINDTTY

999
320

CONTINUE
WRXTE(TTY,320)KOUNT
MEASUREMENTS
FORMAT(3/#I3,*

330

FORMATS,*

WRITE(TTYi330)

REWINDTTY
REWIND 1
REWIND2

SET

PUNCH LIMIT

PROCESSED
BEFORE

RSF

*>
*>

REFERENCES CITED
Davis,

E. Mott

1960 The

and Bernard

Golden

Ben McKinney Site,

Unpublished

on file at Texas
Manuscript
Archeological
Research
Lab Office,
Balcones
Research
Austin.
Center,
Jerold

Johnson,

1976 Machine Assisted

Plains

Characteristics,
21, No. 73.
Suhm,

Dee

Ann

and

1962 Handbook
Descriptions.

Edward

Encoding of Artifact
Vol.

Anthropologist

for Statistical
Programs
Analysis,
sity of Texas
Press, Austin.

Texas

Archeological

Type
So

cietySpecial Publication Number 1 and The

Texas

Memorial
4, Austin.

Museum

Bulletin

Number

Joel Rabinowitz,
Turpin, Solveig,
Jerry Henderson
and Patience
Patterson
1976
A Statistical
Examination
of Caddoan
Ves
sels, Plains Anthropologist
Vo\. 21, No. 73,
pp. 165-179.
Veldman,
1967

Donald
Fortran
Sciences,
York.

Univer

Dept. of Anthropology
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712
December
1976

B. Jelks

of Texas Archeology:
The

1974 Vstat Users Manual CDC6600, Computer

J.
for the Behavioral
Programming
Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
New

319

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