Can be added to either end to create a larger set of four assemblages while also avoiding violations of the seriation model. The successful sets of four assemblages are then used to assess potential combinations of five assemblages, successful sets of five assemblages become the basis for looking at valid sets of six assemblages, and so on. This process is iteratively repeated until no additional larger seriation solutions can be validly created. The end product of this stage of the algorithm is the set of all valid seriation orders with the possibility that some assemblages may appear in more than one ordering. The logical basis of this procedure is that all larger solutions consist of, by definition, ZM241385 dose smaller subsets of valid solutions. For example, a valid solution set of six assemblages labeled A-B-C-D-E-F also includes valid subsets such as B-C-D and B-C-D-E. Thus, if we start with valid solutions of N assemblages and iteratively evaluate N+1 assemblages in terms of the requirements of the seriation model, we are guaranteed to end up with the largest possible solution. Since the algorithm avoids having to search all of the combinations that stem from invalid solutions, IDSS vastly trims down the number of possible solutions: the search space is pruned as the algorithm proceeds. While this iterative approach reduces the numbers of combinations, the numbers of possibilities that must be examined is still very large. While many of of these combinations are order Dactinomycin ultimately trivial since they often become parts of larger orders, when one is constructing solutions by aggregation, the smaller subsets must be searched before the larger seriation orderPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942 April 29,10 /The IDSS Frequency Seriation AlgorithmFig 3. Spatial groups of assemblages as determined by the hierarchical cluster analysis of the principle components generated through the CA analysis as shown in Fig 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942.gPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942 April 29,11 /The IDSS Frequency Seriation AlgorithmFig 4. In DFS, assemblages must meet the frequency and continuity expectations of the model. Here, three assemblages (Assemblage A, Assemblage B, Assemblage C) are represented by rows of horizontal bars where the length of the bar is equivalent to the relative proportion of the type in the assemblage. The small black bars reflect statistical uncertainty of the proportions. At least three assemblages are required to evaluate orders based on the seriation model. Valid orders include type frequencies that include no change, types increasing in frequency, types decreasing in frequency, and types that have a single maximum frequency peak. Invalid orders are those with discontinuity in frequencies, those with more than one maximum frequency peak or in which the frequencies of types are increasing towards the top and bottom of the orders. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942.gis discovered. Nonetheless, building solutions by iterative “agglomeration” of smaller building blocks reduces the search space considerably, and by itself is enough to allow the analysis of reasonably sized and archaeologically-relevant data sets. Scaling the algorithm to larger numbers of assemblages requires additional heuristics to further restrict the possibilities that must be evaluated. Solving this secondary problem requires further application of the theory underlying the seriation method. Ford’s [6] criterion states that for assemblages to be.Can be added to either end to create a larger set of four assemblages while also avoiding violations of the seriation model. The successful sets of four assemblages are then used to assess potential combinations of five assemblages, successful sets of five assemblages become the basis for looking at valid sets of six assemblages, and so on. This process is iteratively repeated until no additional larger seriation solutions can be validly created. The end product of this stage of the algorithm is the set of all valid seriation orders with the possibility that some assemblages may appear in more than one ordering. The logical basis of this procedure is that all larger solutions consist of, by definition, smaller subsets of valid solutions. For example, a valid solution set of six assemblages labeled A-B-C-D-E-F also includes valid subsets such as B-C-D and B-C-D-E. Thus, if we start with valid solutions of N assemblages and iteratively evaluate N+1 assemblages in terms of the requirements of the seriation model, we are guaranteed to end up with the largest possible solution. Since the algorithm avoids having to search all of the combinations that stem from invalid solutions, IDSS vastly trims down the number of possible solutions: the search space is pruned as the algorithm proceeds. While this iterative approach reduces the numbers of combinations, the numbers of possibilities that must be examined is still very large. While many of of these combinations are ultimately trivial since they often become parts of larger orders, when one is constructing solutions by aggregation, the smaller subsets must be searched before the larger seriation orderPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942 April 29,10 /The IDSS Frequency Seriation AlgorithmFig 3. Spatial groups of assemblages as determined by the hierarchical cluster analysis of the principle components generated through the CA analysis as shown in Fig 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942.gPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942 April 29,11 /The IDSS Frequency Seriation AlgorithmFig 4. In DFS, assemblages must meet the frequency and continuity expectations of the model. Here, three assemblages (Assemblage A, Assemblage B, Assemblage C) are represented by rows of horizontal bars where the length of the bar is equivalent to the relative proportion of the type in the assemblage. The small black bars reflect statistical uncertainty of the proportions. At least three assemblages are required to evaluate orders based on the seriation model. Valid orders include type frequencies that include no change, types increasing in frequency, types decreasing in frequency, and types that have a single maximum frequency peak. Invalid orders are those with discontinuity in frequencies, those with more than one maximum frequency peak or in which the frequencies of types are increasing towards the top and bottom of the orders. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124942.gis discovered. Nonetheless, building solutions by iterative “agglomeration” of smaller building blocks reduces the search space considerably, and by itself is enough to allow the analysis of reasonably sized and archaeologically-relevant data sets. Scaling the algorithm to larger numbers of assemblages requires additional heuristics to further restrict the possibilities that must be evaluated. Solving this secondary problem requires further application of the theory underlying the seriation method. Ford’s [6] criterion states that for assemblages to be.