On the use of integrated process models to reconstruct prehistoric occupation, with examples from Sandy Flanders, Belgium

Abstract

A major problem in palaeolandscape reconstruction is that basic data useable for inference are scattered in both the temporal and spatial sense. To improve the understanding of occupational patterns by means of landscape reconstruction methods, we propose the application of different process-models in the soil-water-landscape reconstruction in an interdisciplinary approach. These process-models include a digital elevation model, a hydrological model, a pedogenesis model and a land evaluation model. Due to the multiple disciplines involved, no single model can be used but a model framework is defined in which the various discipline-specific models are integrated. In this paper, each of these models is explained and illustrated for a case-study in Flanders (Belgium) and difficulties occurring when integrating the different models, e.g. grain, extent, coverage, are discussed.

The Körös Basin from the Neolithic to the Hapsburgs: Linking settlement distributions with pre‐regulation hydrology through multiple data set overlay

“…The overlay of multiple geographic data sets is a powerful tool for expanding our understanding of paleoenvironments and their impact on prehistoric and historic settlement (Bauer, Park, & Matney, 2004;Lock & Stanćić, 1995;Wescott & Brandon, 2000;Zwertvaegher et al, 2010). Aerial photos, topographic data, and soil distributions often increase the ability of archaeologists to understand settlement patterning and model culture change.…”

Spatio-temporal modeling of soil characteristics for soilscape reconstruction

“…All maps were used on the spatial grain of 40 m by 40 m. This resolution was chosen in the light of future work, such as a land evaluation in which agricultural fields on the above mentioned grain are assumed reasonable (Zwertvaegher et al, 2010).…”

“…Various types of pre-and protohistoric land use serving as biophysical attractors for occupation were listed by Zwertvaegher et al (2010), together with their associated land qualities and characteristics. For example, the land utilization type rain-fed agriculture that is among other things influenced by land qualities such as moisture, oxygen and nutrient availability in the soil.…”

“…Therefore, process models using the knowledge on physical and chemical processes, are interesting tools in the reconstruction of the palaeo-characteristics of the land (Zwertvaegher et al, 2010) that enable land evaluation and population carrying capacity assessment for past (pre-)historic situations.…”

“…Concerning the factor soil, the pedogenetic process model SoilGen (Finke, 2012;Finke and Hutson, 2008) was used to provide the necessary variables for a specific time and depth of the soil profile at several point locations (Zwertvaegher et al, 2010). Currently, SoilGen is one of the few mechanistic models able to reconstruct depth profiles of soil variables such as clay content, OC content, Base Saturation, CEC, pH, etc.…”