Using geographic information science to predict archaeological sites : an example from Northwestern Belize / by Sallie Vaughn.
| Author/creator | Vaughn, Sallie author. |
| Other author | Crawford, Thomas W., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Geography. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2006. |
| Description | vi, 114 leaves : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The purpose of this project is to generate an archaeological predictive model for a portion of northwestern Belize. This area has been earmarked for ecological and archaeological investigation and is rich in archaeological settlements ranging from grand civic centers to small villages and hamlets. An inductive predictive modeling approach is used to identify areas of high archaeological potential in this 110,000 acre portion of a Belizean conservation. Due to the labor intensive nature of archaeological survey and research, little of this region has been explored. Areas that have been explored produce substantive information pertinent to the culture and history of the ancient Maya who inhabited the region. A comprehensive archaeological site database is created from existing resources. This database is used as the basis for identifying patterns of the landscape that are assoeiated with ancient Maya archaeological sites. The predictive modeling process involves remotely sensed imagery, Geographic Information Science (GIS), and multivariate statistical approaches. Models include characteristics of the present day landscape and the landscape of the ancient Maya. One variable representing the existing vegetational health and two variables interpreting the ancient landscape of the Maya are utilized to generate an archaeological potential model. Several areas of high archaeological potential are identified as well as areas that are unlikely to contain any archaeological remains. Future archaeological surveys should focus on high potential regions to decrease time, effort, and expenses and increase overall archaeological yield. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Geography. |
| General note | Advisor: Tom Crawford |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University 2006 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-102). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |