Abstract
The aim of this study was a spatial analysis of the pottery occurrence (potsherds) in the acropolis part of the Pobedim hillfort (Slovakia) using two spatial statistical methods (spatial autocorrelation and kriging interpolation) with the help of GIS and their subsequent comparison. To understand the landscape of the study area, seven land use maps were created for different historical years (1783–1785, 1845, 1882, 1956, 1971, 2010 and 2017) confirming that the study area was predominantly utilized as arable land, which was related to advantageous floodplain location between the rivers of Horný Dudváh and Dubová. Using the Moran coefficient of spatial autocorrelation, it was found that there were seven high–high clusters and three high–low clusters representing the occurrence of potsherds. Using the kriging interpolation, three clusters of high concentration were found. Subsequent comparison of both methods revealed three identical areas with high frequency of pottery occurrence indicating places where significant settlement objects were located, such as the dwelling of a wealthy man, pottery workshop and the like. The difference between the areas with high number of potsherds between the two methods is approximately 12%, which indicates an acceptable match between the two methods and their applicability for spatial (geographic)–archaeological research.
Highlights
The fortified settlements were built only in a certain period of Slavic culture development
Since the maps from these periods are not that accurate, especially the map from the first military survey, which was constructed without any astronomical-geodetic measurements, the grasslands did not have to be included in the study area at all
In 1959, the Pobedim archaeological site was destroyed by aSnusataginraibciulitlytu20r1a9l, 1c1o, 6o8p73erative as part of land consolidation, which can be seen in Figure 3e–8go.f 17
Summary
The fortified settlements were built only in a certain period of Slavic culture development. In Central Europe the fortified settlements entitled this period as a “hillfort period”. The surroundings of the fortified settlement were created usually by dwellings of peasants who supplied the hillfort elite primarily with the food. The fortified settlements were built either on hills or in a marshy terrain (i.e., lowland forts). The fortified settlements had different functions, such as guarding or strategic, or they played the role of the tribe center, where the tribal chief and his family as well as his armed companions resided. Various craft activities were found on the periphery of fortified settlements. In connection with these facts, the fortified settlements were quite large, often occupying several hectares
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