Predictive modelling and quantitative GIS-based analysis of ritual and settlement landscapes of Neolithic mainland Scotland, c 4000-2500 BC
Monument sites dominate mainland Scottish Neolithic research because so few settlements are known, less than sixty to date. Mostly found by chance, these sites are highly fragmented, difficult to recognise and resistant to interpretation. Important insights into monumentality have recently been achieved using geographic information system (GIS) based landscape studies, but these approaches have not been applied to the settlement record of the Scottish mainland. Accordingly, this research proposes a new landscape methodology, integrating both settlement and 'ritual' evidence to create the first GIS-based predictive models that identify those locations most likely to have sustained Neolithic setdement over the whole of mainland Scotland. Known settlements and monuments provide social and environmental information, which is quantified and contrasted with a control sample. Multivariate statistical analyses establish the variables that may have guided the placement of known sites, forming the backbone of the predictive models. Test samples kept separate from each model's construction were created from two case study regions - southwest Argyll and the Moray Firthlands. Moray has yielded many known settlements, which
Graves, Dorothy Jonina
Predictive modelling and quantitative GIS-based analysis of ritual and settlement landscapes of Neolithic mainland Scotland, c 4000-2500 BC. Monument sites dominate mainland Scottish Neolithic research because so few settlements are known, less than sixty to date. Mostly found by chance, these sites are highly fragmented, difficult to recognise and resistant to interpretation. Important insights into monumentality have recently been achieved using geographic information system (GIS) based landscape studies, but these approaches have not been applied to the settlement record of the Scottish mainland. Accordingly, this research proposes a new landscape methodology, integrating both settlement and 'ritual' evidence to create the first GIS-based predictive models that identify those locations most likely to have sustained Neolithic setdement over the whole of mainland Scotland. Known settlements and monuments provide social and environmental information, which is quantified and contrasted with a control sample. Multivariate statistical analyses establish the variables that may have guided the placement of known sites, forming the backbone of the predictive models. Test samples kept separate from each model's construction were created from two case study regions - southwest Argyll and the Moray Firthlands. Moray has yielded many known settlements, which
predictive_model quantitative gis_based analysis ritual settlement_landscape neolithic mainland_scotland monument site dominate mainland scottish neolithic_settlement know less sixty date mostly find chance sit highly fragment difficult recognise resistant interpretation important insight monumentality recently achieve use geographic_information system gis base landscape study approach apply settlement_record scottish mainland accordingly propose_new landscape integrate settlement ritual evidence create first gis_based predictive_model identify location likely sustain neolithic whole mainland_scotland known settlement monument provide social_environmental information quantify contrast control sample multivariate_statistical analysis establish variable may guide placement know site form backbone predictive_model test sample keep separate model construction create two_case study region southwest argyll yield many known settlement