Spatial Patterns in Landscape Archaeology: A GIS Procedure to Study Settlement Organization in Early Roman Colonial Territories

The 43rd volume of the ASLU series presents a GIS procedure to study settlement patterns in landscape archaeology, using legacy site-based survey data to assess biases and location preferences of ancient communities. A case-study demonstrates the method's practical application.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2018
Publisher: Leiden University Press

The 43rd volume of the ASLU series introduces a valuable GIS approach for analyzing settlement patterns in landscape archaeology. In various Mediterranean regions, archaeological sites have been mapped through fieldwalking surveys, generating extensive datasets. These legacy site-based survey data hold significant value for studying ancient settlement organization. However, methodological procedures are required to address the limitations of these data and mitigate the distortions caused by biasing factors. This book presents a GIS procedure that utilizes legacy survey data in settlement pattern analysis. It comprises two sections. The first section focuses on assessing biases that can impact the spatial patterns observed in survey data. The second section aims to shed light on the location preferences and settlement strategies of ancient communities, which are reflected in site patterns. In this book, a case study demonstrates the practical application of the method. As part of the Landscapes of Early Roman Colonization project (NWO, Leiden University, KNIR), site-based datasets from survey projects in central-southern Italy are examined in a comparative framework to investigate settlement patterns during the early Roman colonial period (3rd century B.C.).

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 210 x 272 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789087283117