Point pattern and spatial analyses using archaeological and environmental data – A case study from the Neolithic Carpathian Basin

Abstract

Computational methods recently gained momentum in archaeological science, particularly affecting large site distribution samples and environmental explanatory parameters. However, quantitative and environmental archaeology are still considered to be limited to a small number of experts and thus less ready to use in general research. Here, we present a case study that integrates computational methods and environmental data into archaeological spatial analyses using Point Pattern Analysis (PPA). We introduce a basic approach to model, visualise, and interpret archaeological site distributions as functions of explanatory covariates in a regional setting of the Neolithic period in the Carpathian Basin. The integration of environmental and socio-cultural variables in a multicomponent analysis allows to distinguish site location parameters and preferences across different chronological periods. Using the code to this article and open-access spatial data, the workflow can be adapted to different regional contexts and chronological periods, making it particularly suitable for spatial pattern comparison.