This thesis investigates the application of computational methods in landscape archaeology, focusing on the Early Iron Age path network of Central Crete, particularly in the key sites of Lyktos,...Show moreThis thesis investigates the application of computational methods in landscape archaeology, focusing on the Early Iron Age path network of Central Crete, particularly in the key sites of Lyktos, Hersonissos, and other secondary ones in the same area. It addresses key methodological and theoretical issues by employing the Python programming language for geospatial analysis and incorporating phenomenological perspectives to enhance understanding of ancient human-environment interactions. Recent advancements in Landscape Archaeology have been significantly influenced by phenomenological approaches introduced by scholars like Tilley and Ingold, who influenced by the philosophers of phenomenology redefined the term “landscape” by emphasizing the embodied and experiential aspects of it. Based on their work, archaeologists like Llobera and Wheatley challenged the quantitative treatment of landscapes and further explored the dynamic relationship between humans and their environments, highlighting the importance of movement and perception in landscape archaeology. Geographic Information Systems have been instrumental in landscape studies, but often reduce landscapes to static and quantitative data. This thesis critiques these limitations and proposes a novel methodological framework using Python for Least Cost Path analysis. This approach offers greater flexibility and insight into the computational processes behind geospatial analysis, addressing issues of conventional GIS tools by providing a detailed and customizable examination of movement patterns. The main research questions are if Python-based LCP analysis can produce results comparable to those from traditional tools like QGIS and if this computational approach, enhanced by phenomenological perspectives can offer deeper insights into the social and path network of Early Iron Age Crete. The findings reveal that Python is a robust tool for geospatial analysis, producing results similar to QGIS while offering enhanced flexibility and detailed examination of computational processes. This methodology highlights the importance of understanding the underlying processes behind geospatial tools and demonstrates Python’s potential for archaeological research. By integrating phenomenological ideas, this thesis interprets the computational results within a broader archaeological context. This approach considers different parameters of how ancient people might have perceived and navigated their surrounding landscape. The analysis uncovers a potential socio-cultural network in Central Crete, with modeled paths suggesting continuity with the earlier Minoan path network of the area and offering insights into connectivity and movement patterns of the Early Iron Age. Overall, this research shows that Python-based methods provide a valuable alternative methodology to traditional GIS and a nuanced understanding of ancient human-landscape interactions.Show less
Technical advances in the field of remote sensing have made it possible to create a large number of datasets with very high spectral, temporal or spatial resolution, however, in the field of...Show moreTechnical advances in the field of remote sensing have made it possible to create a large number of datasets with very high spectral, temporal or spatial resolution, however, in the field of archaeology, the evaluation of this data is still largely a manual undertaking. The issue with manual interpretation is that human interpreters are increasingly having difficulty coping with the sheer amount of data while in some cases, the human eye is not capable of processing the full range of information contained in these datasets. It is for this reason that (semi-)automatic classification workflows need to be developed in order to aid human interpreters in their image classification tasks. This thesis is concerned with the development of a Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GeOBIA) workflow for classifying LiDAR visualisations containing heterogeneous and linear objects. The study area that this workflow is applied to is the terraced landscape of the Lower Engadine, Switzerland, where the complex and steep terrain contains multiple agricultural terraces, irrigation/drainage ditches, roads and more. The workflow makes use of only FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications in order to ensure full transparency, accessibility and reproducibility of the classification results. For this purpose, a number of FOSS and proprietary software was tested in order to determine the user friendliness, suitability and effectiveness of each of the options. In order to develop the final workflow, a number of studies regarding the suitability of different LiDAR visualisations as well as training data input options and smoothing filters were carried out. The final workflow makes use of an unfiltered slope visualisation, consists of six steps with an optional seventh step, and is capable of producing classification results that hold up against manual mapping results of the terrace edges that were used as a benchmark. Finally, in order to assess whether the classification results generated by the workflow are useful to a human interpreter, a user study was carried out. 13 out of the 14 users stated that the classification results were helpful to them and because the workflow takes no longer than 5-10 minutes to carry out, it can be said that this workflow is capable of producing a useful classification of the study area with minimal time and effort.Show less
The use of computer applications has irrevocably changed the way archaeology is done, as well as redefined what it means to do “good” archaeology. This has brought about numerous methodological...Show moreThe use of computer applications has irrevocably changed the way archaeology is done, as well as redefined what it means to do “good” archaeology. This has brought about numerous methodological questions concerning the use of data, data sources, and the software used in analyses. This thesis seeks to explore some of these issues, including the re-use or borrowing of data, open source data, and the use of FOSS programs within archaeology. In order to answer these questions, the spatial relationship between the terraces in the Swiss Alps was investigated. The study area is located in the area surrounding (and including) Ramosch in the Lower Engadine, Switzerland. These terraces have been in use since at least the Middle Ages, and could potentially date to the Bronze Age. The terraces were documented based on remote sensing data and digitized in QGIS 1.8. The spatial relationship of the terraces is primarily determined by the viability of the land for agriculture (soil composition and sunlight), followed by the distance from modern settlements, modern features in the landscape (i.e. buildings, roads, and waterways), and access to water. This research shows that it is possible to do archaeological research by recycling data from third-party sources. All of the data used in this project was obtained for no cost. The spatial resolution of the general-purpose data and recycled data was more than adequate and the lack of metadata was not a major obstacle. The largest hindrance with using data collected by others for an alternative purpose is finding the right data and gaining access to this data. The processes of understanding the data without metadata can be completed by comparing the unknown datasets to those that are known. The use of FOSS programs is extremely beneficial. The low cost, easy accessibility and large online communities have helped the FOSS movement to thrive. The ability to share information unhindered by licensing and terms and conditions promotes the continuation of accessible research. However, FOSS is not inherently better than proprietary software. The primary requirement for the use of a program should be its ability to perform all the required functions necessary for good research. Show less
Roman colonization has received a lot of attention in archaeological publications over the last decade, due to new evidence which suggested that the earlier assumptions, based mainly on a much...Show moreRoman colonization has received a lot of attention in archaeological publications over the last decade, due to new evidence which suggested that the earlier assumptions, based mainly on a much later Roman source by Gellius who describes colonies as small copies of Rome, on the subject were outdated and incorrect. While the urban aspect of Roman colonization has been extensively reviewed with this new perspective, the influence Roman colonization had on the rural landscape has been somewhat neglected. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the impact the foundation of the Roman colony of Aesernia in modern Molise had on the surrounding landscape, using survey data and aerial photographs as sources of information. In order to properly analyse the changes around Aesernia, the ancient Samnite settlement of Bovianum has been selected for analysis, providing an example of a rural landscape which due to its history was more likely to retain its “Samnite” character. Despite difficulties with the available data concerning these area, mainly due to the relative underrepresentation of Molise in Italian archaeology, two things have become clear. First of all, based on both the survey data and the analysis of the aerial photographs, the model described by Gellius for Roman colonies does not apply to the rural landscape of Aesernia. There is no clear break detectable in settlement pattern after the foundation of the colony, which is what is claimed by Gellius. Secondly, this study has shown the potential of a combined application of aerial photography and a field survey in a rugged region such as Molise. Not only does it provide a method to quickly analyse a large amount of land with relatively high detail and at a low cost, it also allows further archaeological research to focus its resources on the locations with the greatest archaeological importance identified with these techniques.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
In 'Mapping History' archaeological sites within a small region in the northwestern Dominican Republic are mapped, in order to distinguish patterns in site locations and to explore the social...Show moreIn 'Mapping History' archaeological sites within a small region in the northwestern Dominican Republic are mapped, in order to distinguish patterns in site locations and to explore the social landscape in the past. The landscape in the research area consists of beaches, swamps, mangroves, valleys, and hills up to 300 metres in height. It is known from research by Jorge Ulloa Hung, an archaeologist currently writing his dissertation on ceramics in the area, that there were different ceramic styles present contemporaneously in the north of the Dominican Republic. While Ulloa Hung focuses on the ceramics from the sites in the area, in this research the surrounding area (circa 80 km²) is mapped to provide a context for Ulloa Hung’s research. In this thesis the study on the social landscape is the central focus. Observations and results of the fieldwork conducted in the area were used for this study, and recorded into a map-related database or Geographical Information System (GIS). The relation between site locations and surroundings were analysed with the use of the created GIS. The focus of the analyses is mainly on differences between sites with Meillacoid style ceramics and sites with Chicoid style ceramics. The goal was to bring forth different patterns in the site locations of Meillacoid and Chicoid sites. The diverse landscape in the area combined with the diverse cultural landscape makes this area very suitable for such analyses. Although there are similarities between several aspects of the sites, the area also differences. Meillacoid sites tend to be located closer to the coast, while Chicoid sites are located further inland. Furthermore, Meillacoid sites have a better visibility range, and are therefore better visible themselves. There are evidently different patterns of site locations of both kinds of sites in the area, but there is one common denominator: diversity.Show less
