Number of Identified Specimens

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The Number of Identified Specimens, or NISP, is used by archaeologists when counting bones from a site. NISP counts each bone and fragment as a unit. The total NISP equals the total possible number of individuals.

Re: "The total NISP equals the total possible number of individuals". This is a common fallacy. In fact on many sites the total NISP severely underestimates the total possible number of individuals that contributed to the assemblage, because of preservation issues. Palaeoindian sites, which often exhibit poor organic preservation, are a case in point.