DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/geoplanning.8.1.1-22

Practical Methods of GIS for Archaeologists: Viewshed Analysis – The Kingdom of Pylos example

*George D. Malaperdas  -  University of The Peloponnese, Greece

Citation Format:
Abstract

Visibility (or Viewshed) Analysis in archeology is a function given through GIS, in purpose to contribute in the field of archaeology and especially in landscape archeology, by reconstituting the visual panorama of a study area of the past.  The concept of landscape archeology is a multidimensional research process that is not limited to archaeologists but places a special emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach. Mycenaean Messenia was the area of study and analysis of the visual panorama for two important reasons. First of all, it is a large area, which presents territories of varying heterogeneity in terms of morphology, while having a large sea front and an open observation horizon. Secondly, it is one of the continental regions of the Mycenaean period, which has evoked the largest number of residential facilities, structures and tombs, and also has been extensively studied by archaeologists since the 1920s. The main aim of this paper is to make an effort to identify archaeological information, through the bibliographic references of the archaeologists who studied the area, with the GIS visibility analysis. For that reason, the author tries for those residential locations that have been assigned a role or function of the site by archaeologists, such as an observation station, to be controlled in parallel and on the basis of new technologies (GIS and Viewshed Analysis) if this view is verified.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: GIS; Landscape Archaeology; Viewshed Analysis; Mycenaean Messenia
Funding: George Malaperdas

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research
Language : EN
Recent articles
Modelling Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV) Over Nigeria from Ground-Based GNSS Practical Methods of GIS for Archaeologists: Viewshed Analysis – The Kingdom of Pylos example Correlation Between Settlement Environmental Quality and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Disease of Gayamsari Sub-District, Semarang More recent articles
Most cited articles
A SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD UNIT SCALE IN SUPPORTING CHILD-FRIENDLY SURAKARTA EVALUASI KESESUAIAN LOKASI DAN JANGKAUAN PELAYANAN SEKOLAH MENENGAH UMUM DI KECAMATAN KEBAKKRAMAT KABUPATEN KARANGANYAR Evaluation of MODIS-Derived LST Products with Air Temperature Measurements in Cyprus GIS-BASED LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY ASSESSMENT AND FACTOR EFFECT ANALYSIS BY CERTAINTY FACTOR IN UPSTREAM OF JENEBERANG RIVER, INDONESIA SLUM REVITALIZING PLAN OF BAGHDADIYAH BY SPATIAL RE-MODELING CONFIGURATION More cited articles

  1. Boyd, M. J. (1999). Middle helladic and early Mycenaean mortuary customs in the southern and western Peloponnese. University of Edinburgh.

  2. da Silva, R. G. P., Henke-Oliveira, C., Ferreira, E. S., Fetter, R., Barbosa, R. G., & Saito, C. H. (2020). Systematic Conservation Planning approach based on viewshed analysis for the definition of strategic points on a visitor trail. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 8(3), 153–165. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2020.07.001">Crossref]

  3. ERGON. (1955). To ergon tes Archaiologikes Hetaireias. Athenai: Archaiologikē Hetaireia.

  4. ESRI. (2013). World Shaded Relief Map Service (digital file). Redlands, CA.

  5. Gillings, M. (2015). Mapping invisibility: {GIS} approaches to the analysis of hiding and seclusion. Journal of Archaeological Science, 62, 1–14. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2015.06.015">Crossref]

  6. Jones, E. E. (2006). Using Viewshed Analysis to Explore Settlement Choice: A Case Study of the Onondaga Iroquois. American Antiquity, 71(3), 523–538. [https://doi.org/10.1017/s0002731600039792">Crossref]

  7. Lake, M. W., & Woodman, P. E. (2003). Visibility Studies in Archaeology: A Review and Case Study. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 30(5), 689–707. [https://doi.org/10.1068/b29122">Crossref]

  8. Liko, S. M. (2012). Second Order Centers and Regional Integration in the Late Bronze Age Aegean. Retrieved from [http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-4991">Crossref]

  9. Lockwood, E., & Masters, P. (2021). Application of viewshed analysis and probability mapping for search area determination based on the Moors murders on Saddleworth Moor, the United Kingdom. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 66(5), 1770–1787. [https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14799">Crossref]

  10. Malaperdas, G., & Zacharias, N. (2018). A Geospatial Analysis of Mycenaean Habitation Sites Using a Geocumulative versus Habitation Approach. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 06(01), 111–131. [https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2018.61008">Crossref]

  11. McDonald, W. A., & Simpson, R. H. (1961). Prehistoric Habitation in Southwestern Peloponnese. American Journal of Archaeology, 65(3), 221–260. [https://doi.org/10.2307/501685">Crossref]

  12. McDonald, W. A., & Simpson, R. H. (1964). Further Exploration in Southwestern Peloponnese: 1962-1963. American Journal of Archaeology, 68(3), 229–245. [https://doi.org/10.2307/502386">Crossref]

  13. McDonald, W. A., & Simpson, R. H. (1969). Further Explorations in Southwestern Peloponnese: 1964-1968. American Journal of Archaeology, 73(2), 123–177. [https://doi.org/10.2307/502778">Crossref]

  14. Rapp, G. R., & McDonald, W. A. (1972). The Minnesota Messenia Expedition : Reconstructing a Bronze Age Regional Environment. Minneapolis: Univ. of Minn. P.

  15. Simpson, R. H., & Dickinson, O. T. P. K. (1979). A gazetteer of Aegean civilisation in the Bronze Age, Vol. I: The Mainland and the Islands. Goteborg: Paul Åströms Förlag.

  16. Simpson, R. H. (1981). Mycenaean Greece. Park Ridge, N.J.: Noyes Press.

  17. Simpson, R. H. (2014). Mycenaean Messenia and the Kingdom of Pylos. Retrieved from [https://books.google.co.id/books?id=0awmBAAAQBAJ">Crossref]

  18. Valmin, M. N. (1930). Études topographiques sur la Messénie ancienne. Lund.

  19. Wheatley, D., & Gillings, M. (2002). Spatial Technology and Archaeology. [https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203302392">Crossref]

  20. Zavadil, M. (2014). Monumenta. : Studien zu mittel- und späthelladischen Gräbern in Messenien. [https://doi.org/10.26530/oapen_464190">Crossref]


Last update:

  1. Unraveling the Mongolian Arc: a Field Survey and Spatial Investigation of a Previously Unexplored Wall System in Eastern Mongolia

    Ying Tung Fung, Angaragdulguun Gantumur, Ido Wachtel, Amartuvshin Chunag, Zhidong Zhang, Or Fenigstein, Dan Golan, Gideon Shelach-Lavi. Journal of Field Archaeology, 49 (4), 2024. doi: 10.1080/00934690.2023.2295198

Last update: 2024-11-24 09:15:49

No citation recorded.