The social and physical environment of Early Gozo : a study of settlement and change
This thesis explores the archaeological study of settlement within a small island setting. The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology provides a comprehensive methodological framework which enables this research to move from a consideration of the artefactual residues of domestic activity, to their composition as 'sites', and their place within the broader dynamics of settlement systems. The Maltese Islands, and the island of Gozo in particular, provide an excellent opportunity to put this framework into practice: the megalithic monuments of the islands' prehistoric era have captured the imaginations of scholars for centuries, leaving the wider prehistoric landscape poorly understood and disconnected from the impressive archaeology of the major sites. The present research seeks to change this biased view of prehistory and reconnect with the domestic aspects of Maltese prehistory by exploring the nature of prehistoric settlement activity on Gozo. The availability of a convenient survey database provides an opportunity to establish an understanding of prehistoric settlement activity on Gozo using modem GIS technology. A series of exploratory, GIS-driven spatial analyses also enable the
Boyle, Sara
The social and physical environment of Early Gozo : a study of settlement and change. This thesis explores the archaeological study of settlement within a small island setting. The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology provides a comprehensive methodological framework which enables this research to move from a consideration of the artefactual residues of domestic activity, to their composition as 'sites', and their place within the broader dynamics of settlement systems. The Maltese Islands, and the island of Gozo in particular, provide an excellent opportunity to put this framework into practice: the megalithic monuments of the islands' prehistoric era have captured the imaginations of scholars for centuries, leaving the wider prehistoric landscape poorly understood and disconnected from the impressive archaeology of the major sites. The present research seeks to change this biased view of prehistory and reconnect with the domestic aspects of Maltese prehistory by exploring the nature of prehistoric settlement activity on Gozo. The availability of a convenient survey database provides an opportunity to establish an understanding of prehistoric settlement activity on Gozo using modem GIS technology. A series of exploratory, GIS-driven spatial analyses also enable the
social physical_environment early study settlement change explores archaeological_study settlement within small_island setting application geographic_information_systems gis technology provide_comprehensive methodological_framework enables move consideration artefactual residues domestic activity composition sites place_within broad dynamic settlement system maltese islands island particular provide_excellent opportunity put framework practice megalithic_monument island prehistoric era capture imagination scholar century leave wider prehistoric_landscape poorly_understood impressive archaeology major site present seek change bias view prehistory domestic aspect maltese prehistory explore_nature prehistoric_settlement activity availability convenient survey database provide_opportunity establish prehistoric_settlement activity use modem gis technology series exploratory gis driven spatial_analysis also enable