Testing hypotheses of independence on symmetrical artifacts

Independence between attributes on artifacts with two equivalent loci has ordinarily been tested only when the loci can be differentiated from each other, say as left or right side or as distal or proximal end. If such an identification does not exist, is uncertain or is irrelevant, then a test of independence requires a special statistical procedure. Such a procedure is given here. Applications are illustrated for coreplatforms, geometric microliths and arrow-head typology, and an extension to artifacts with several equivalent loci is determined.