Abstract

Route networks are influenced by cultural and environmental dynamics. Consequently, route networks themselves often are dynamic as well. This is especially true in lowland areas, such as the Netherlands, where environmental processes (e.g. geomorphological changes, floods) probably reshaped these networks numerous times. Many of the existing route networks in the Netherlands were established relatively recently, and little is known of their historical predecessors. Recent developments in spatial modelling may improve locating and analysing these old, vanished routes. In this study we have applied two recently-developed applications for historical-route network modelling to the Veluwe (the Netherlands) in order to reconstruct the route network in the region around AD 1500. This region is not densely cultivated and is known to have a long history of routes and paths running through the landscape. The first method, network friction, uses high-resolution geoscientific and cultural data to calculate potential movement corridors and probable route zones. The second method uses a more traditional least-cost path (LCP) model based on surface, groundwater level and slope. The usefulness of these approaches for reconstructing past route networks and the general added value of these approaches was assessed by comparing the reconstructions to the few existing spatial overviews of historical-route networks in this region and hollow ways extracted from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data. Our findings show that the results of the first method, network-friction modelling, correspond best with the comparison data regarding known routes in the study area. However, the general results point towards the necessity of integrating the two applied methods, since a combination of these models best reflects the multiscale variability within regional route networks.

Highlights

  • Route networks both reflect and influence cultural and landscape processes and are key to understanding human-landscape interactions. Van Lanen et al (2015a, 2015b) developed a new method for reconstructing large-scale route networks in the past

  • In this paper we investigate the applicability of this method and a more traditional least-cost path approach in order to improve our understanding of the layout of partly-vanished historical route networks on a

  • The method originally was designed for the Roman period and Early Middle Ages, but this study shows that the approach does have potential in reconstructing more recent route networks

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Summary

Introduction

Route networks both reflect and influence (large-scale) cultural and landscape processes and are key to understanding human-landscape interactions. Van Lanen et al (2015a, 2015b) developed a new method for reconstructing large-scale (supraregional) route networks in the past. Route networks both reflect and influence (large-scale) cultural and landscape processes and are key to understanding human-landscape interactions. Over time many routes will have disappeared mainly through dynamic geomorphological (e.g. erosion) and human-induced processes (e.g. agricultural and building activities). These same dynamics through routenetwork modelling enable us to calculate the probable location of many of these vanished routes, since not every region is suitable for travel and transport and for hosting (persistent) route networks (Van Lanen et al, 2015a, 2016; Van Lanen, 2016)

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