Looking at the Big Picture: Using Geographic Information Systems to Explore Settlement Patterns in Kosova (15 min)
Presenters
Erina Baci, University of Michigan; Leela Anderson, University of Michigan; and Joana Hila, University of Michigan
Abstract
In this paper, we present the
results of preliminary large-scale geospatial analyses conducted on
archaeological sites in Kosova. This geospatial dataset was created by pulling
site information and locations from volumes 1–3 of the archaeological maps of
Kosova. The resulting gazetteer includes 700 sites, ranging from the Neolithic
to the Medieval periods in Kosova. Attributes recorded for each site include
site type, site size, time period, GPS coordinates, and short site
descriptions. The sites were then divided into three temporal periods:
prehistoric, antique and medieval. The data were imported into ArcGIS Pro,
where the Nearest Neighbor, Ripley’s K and Kernel Density tools were used to
measure the degree of spatial clustering of the sites across the three time
periods. We had three broad goals in performing this analysis: research,
preservation, and education. First, while it has been soundly argued that any
meaningful geospatial analysis should operate at multiple scales, large-scale
analyses such as that conducted here provide a crucial first step for any
additional research by highlighting broad patterns and areas that need
additional attention. Second, the dataset can serve as a valuable cultural
heritage management resource. For example, the dataset can be used to identify
sites that are at imminent threat of destruction due to resource extraction or
expanding urbanization. And finally, the dataset has the potential to serve as
a learning resource for students of Balkan archaeology, as geospatial data can
be difficult to find for the region. Our preliminary analyses show that sites
are spatially clustered throughout time, but that the location of these
clusters change over time. The reason for this change is likely a mixture of
geographical, environmental, and social processes.
AIA-6E