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Quantifying Inherited Uncertainty in Archaeological Legacy Data Using Fuzzy Logic Metrics: A Reference Framework and Two Case Studies Cover

Quantifying Inherited Uncertainty in Archaeological Legacy Data Using Fuzzy Logic Metrics: A Reference Framework and Two Case Studies

Open Access
|Mar 2026

Abstract

This research addresses the imperfection in archaeological data — ambiguity, partiality, imprecision, and uncertainty — through a fuzzy logic-based framework to measure uncertainty in site chronologies and typologies. The framework integrates expert interpretation and applies fuzzy operators to quantify uncertainty, particularly in dating and typology, using trapezoidal functions for fuzzification. By introducing metrics like CDEG (Comprehensive Degree of Equivalence) and FEQ (Factor of Equivalence), the framework provides a replicable approach to assessing and managing uncertainty in legacy data. Case studies from San Blas and Santa María de Hito demonstrate the model’s adequacy in quantifying uncertainty at various stages of investigation, offering a more flexible classification and analysis of incomplete or uncertain archaeological data. This approach enhances the reliability of archaeological research and improves the management of data by providing clear, measurable metrics for uncertainty in both chronology and typology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.220 | Journal eISSN: 2514-8362
Language: English
Submitted on: Apr 7, 2025
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Accepted on: Oct 14, 2025
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Published on: Mar 13, 2026
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2026 Leticia Tobalina-Pulido, Patricia Martín-Rodilla, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.