Territorial modelling and archaeological data: how complete must the picture be?

Abstract

The study area in the Upper Rhine Valley, its geographical features, the archaeological record and the degree of archaeological exploration are described and a model is introduced that enables the use of incomplete and heterogeneous archaeological data. This model is based on the combination of three maps, respectively showing the environmental potential of the landscape, the degree of archaeological exploration and site density. It serves several purposes. Firstly, to determine whether the absence of sites observed in certain regions is due to a poor environmental potential for settlement and cultivation or the lack of archaeological exploration. Secondly, to detect boundaries that cannot be explained by poor environmental potential or the lack of archaeological exploration and give the archaeologist good arguments for a cultural interpretation of these boundaries. Thirdly, to produce qualified estimates of possible further sites, especially in areas with little archaeological exploration. Two case studies illustrate the detection of prehistoric boundaries and their possible interpretation.