Contribution of path modelling to the ancient settlement pattern study over the long term

Élise Fovet (1, 2) , Klemen Zakšek (1, 3)

1 LEA MODELTER - European laboratory for Modelling of Landscapes and Territories over the Long Term
2 LCE - Laboratoire Chrono-environnement (UMR 6249)
3 IAPS - Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies

This presentation describes modelling of the ancient paths as a tool for settlement pattern studies. The path modelling methodology is a stimulating tool, which is complementary to the hierarchical approaches in the landscape archaeology, since it contributes to the understanding of the spatial relation between archaeological sites. This methodology is used to simulate the theoretical movements between settlements at several periods and, therefore, to look at the evolution of the regional path network. With this approach, the evolution of the settlement pattern is analysed in a study area in south-east of France, during Iron Age and late roman period (from the 5th c. BC to the 5th c. AD). The existing methodology of raster based modelling was enhanced by enlarging the set of path reconstitution parameters (visibility) and by modelling in two scales. The proposed model is based on parameters derived merely from the relief because its changes should be insignificant even over a long period

Mots clés: settlement pattern; ancient path; friction surface; energy-consumption; visibility

Domaines: Archéologie et Préhistoire

Élise Fovet, Klemen Zakšek. Contribution of path modelling to the ancient settlement pattern study over the long term. Modelling the complexity of past population movement, interactions and landuse, Apr 2008, Berne, Switzerland. ⟨hal-00404896⟩