Ancient Road Network Research Articles

Beyond Inca roads: the Redes Andinas project explores complex palimpsests of Andean road networks

AbstractThe Redes Andinas (Andean Networks) project assesses the complexity of ancient road networks in the archaeological record in the Andes, beyond the Inca roads system. A multiscale methodological approach allows us to characterise the transformation and resilience of the road networks over the past millennium, in the context of the 18°South parallel's vertical transect.

Reconstructing and tracing the evolution of the road networks in the Haidai region of China during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages

Reconstructing ancient transportation networks is critical to studying past human mobility patterns. China’s Haidai region was a thriving political and economic hub during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. We used GIS spatial analysis techniques to build a “Settlement Interaction Model” based on archaeological data from the Haidai region during the Bronze and Early Iron Age (Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Spring & Autumn Period, and Warring States period). The eight-level road network maps with traffic attributes were distinguished based on topography and settlement size. The total lengths of the road networks were estimated to be 19,112 km in the Shang Dynasty, 35,269 km in the Western Zhou Dynasty, 51,555 km in the Spring & Autumn Period, and 77,456 km in the Warring States Period, with the average road flows of 6.6, 31.7, 42.8, and 75.5, respectively. The Z score and one-sample t-test (p < 0.01) confirmed the reliability of the reconstructed road networks. The Shang Dynasty saw the sporadic appearance of simple road routes. More complex routes emerged during the Western Zhou Dynasty and Spring & Autumn Period. The road networks were finally built during the Warring States Period. The development of road networks was closely related to population growth and urbanization. Exploring methods for reconstructing road networks may help us uncover ancient road networks and better understand ancient cultural exchanges.

Quantitative Analysis Village Spatial Morphology Using “SPSS + GIS” Approach: A Case Study of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture

This research comprehensively analyzes the spatial morphology of 177 traditional villages within Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. The study delineates these characteristics utilizing a combination of five quantitative measured indices—ratio, boundary, saturation, building density, and dispersion coefficients. Leveraging sophisticated analytical techniques facilitated by “SPSS + GIS” integration, the investigation systematically explores the intricate details of village spatial form. Their overarching distribution patterns, and the determinant factors influencing them, provide insights across both granular and broad-scale dimensions. The aim is to establish a robust quantitative data analysis framework, facilitating a precise description of traditional villages’ spatial dynamics. The findings categorize the spatial morphology of Linxia’s traditional villages into three distinct types: linear multi-point concentration, dense clustering, and irregular dispersion. Common traits among these categories include widespread dispersal, small settlements, and a mix of dwellings. Spatial distribution patterns vary, with dense clusters forming an “olive-shaped” trend in the southeast–northwest direction, while irregularly dispersed villages develop along mountains and valleys, exhibiting multi-core structures. Additionally, linear multi-point concentrated villages display a random, multi-point distribution interspersed with dense clusters. The survival strategies of these commercial, subsistence, and resource-based villages are shaped by a confluence of factors such as elevation, river proximity, ancient road networks, and the interplay between Han Chinese and Tibetan cultural influences. The implications of this study are significant for understanding traditional village dynamics, promoting sustainable development, and refining quantitative methods for rural studies.

An Ancient Road Network and Settlements in the Central ash-Sharah Area in the Hinterland of Petra

This paper presents the archaeological evidence for the existence of an ancient road network in the study area of the Central ash-Sharah area. It presents a detailed description of the route and general characteristics of each road, and its relation with the ancient settlement sites in its proximity and with other ancient roads. The paper discusses also other aspects relevant to the topic such the date of the recorded road network, and the nature of the ancient occupation in the study area.

Spatiotemporal reconstruction of ancient road networks through sequential cost-benefit analysis.

The construction of ancient road networks spanned generations and exhibits temporal path dependence that is not fully captured by established network formation models that are used to support archaeological reasoning. We introduce an evolutionary model that captures explicitly the sequential nature of road network formation: A central feature is that connections are added successively and according to an optimal cost-benefit trade-off with respect to existing connections. In this model, the network topology emerges rapidly from early decisions, a trait that makes it possible to identify plausible road construction orders in practice. Based on this observation we develop a method to compress the search space of path-dependent optimization problems. We use this method to show that the model's assumptions on ancient decision-making allow the reconstruction of partially known road networks from the Roman era in good detail and from sparse archaeological evidence. In particular, we identify missing links in the major road network of ancient Sardinia that are in good agreement with expert predictions.

ANALYZING THE ROAD NETWORK STRUCTURE OF TANG-TIBET ROAD AND BUILDING A SPATIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR ITS TIBET SECTION

Abstract. Since the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the Tang-Tibet Road has been the only way from inland China to Qinghai and Tibet, and even to other countries such as Nepal and India. It ties and bonds various ethnic groups and regions, integrates cultural memories and cross-cultural communication achievements from ancient times to the present, and witnesses the dynamic propagation of the culture. Affected by the environment, climate, and wars, Tang-Tibet Road was often impossible to travel on or through intermittently during its progressive development in history. Routes and lines of each of its sections changed from time to time; eventually, an ancient road network was formed, consisting of one trunk road, two subsidiary roads in the north and south, several branches, and scattered auxiliary routes separated from the system, among which there were both outward-oriented international passages and inward-oriented passages. Nonetheless, research on Tang-Tibet Road is insufficient at the current stage. Regarding the problems summarized based on the review of the research situation, the present work probes deeper into the network structure of Tang-Tibet Road. How historical corridor is generated and evolved is understood from a regional perspective. In particular, strategies to design a space information system for the Tibet section of Tang-Tibet Road are explained to promote the exploration and use of cultural heritages in Tibet, in an effort to preserve these heritages while developing Tibet’s society and economy.

Morphology of Garut City: Spatial Planning and Transportation System

This paper examines the morphological growth of Garut City in historical perspective. To achieve this goal, this study used a historical method that includes four stages, namely heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Garut city has been known as a tourist destination since the Dutch colonialism and became the main residential area of Europeans living on the island due to the existence of plantations in the South Garut region. These conditions make Garut City an urban area that has special features compared to other urban areas in Garut Regency. This study aims at addressing the following question: 1) How does the population influence the physical changes (morphology) of Garut City? 2) How was the railroad construction in Garut City during the Dutch colonial period? And 3) How is the influence of cosmology on the spatial layout of Garut City? The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of population growth on the physical changes (morphology) of Garut city. The study seeks to explain the road traffic of Garut City and the factors that influenced spatial planning. The results showed that Kota Intan was the early name for Garut City, the center of government, economy, education, social, and culture of Garut Regency. The results also revealed that despite its rapid and dynamic morphological growth, Garut City still shows some traditional and colonial characteristics. Although its ancient road network is made in a way that does not interfere with the activity or movement of goods and services, its high population growth and development inequality prevent it from running properly.

The Ancient Routes and New Lycian Inscriptions around Fethiye

The first part of this contribution contains the results of field surveys made in recent years exploring the ancient road network around Fethiye, including the routes between Pinara, Telmessos, Kalynda, Kadyanda, Araxa and Tlos. According to these results, there are two options for the road between Pinara and Telmessos, one through Kabaağaç and Gökben, one over Babadağ. In the article, the second option is suggested for the road recorded in Monumentum Patarense (MP). While the road between Tlos and Telmessos was at first expected to have passed through today’s Seydikemer, the field surveys identified a better option with a course through Çaltıözü, Bozyer ve Esenköy, crossing over an ancient bridge, only a footing-base of which has survived, in today’s Allıkavak. The ancient route between Telmessos and Kalynda mostly follows the modern road between Fethiye and Dalaman, and the localizations of İnlice/Daidala and Şerefler/Kalynda are discussed again. The road between Kadyanda and Telmessos probably led through Eldirek, and the road between Kadyanda and Araxa passed over the ancient bridge in Atlıdere. The route from Kadyanda to Tlos also passed over this bridge and reached Tlos following a course past Kıncılar, Girmeler and Güneşli. Similarly, the road between Araxa and Tlos followed the same route to the south of Atlıdere Bridge.In the second part of the contribution two new Lycian inscriptions are published. One was found at Asarcık (ancient Aloanda) located ca. 7,5 km to the north of Pinara, and the other on the road between Kadyanda and Araxa. The inscription from Aloanda reflects a religious and funerary content. The type of monument cannot be identified with certainty, because half of the stone is missing. The discussion of the inscription has contributions concerning the vocabulary and morphology of the Lycian language. The find spot of the inscription might have been a religious location, because there are no funerary remains from the Lycian period in the spot. It is less likely that inscription has a funerary character, as there was no rock-cut tomb or early sarcophagus at the find spot, though there are several later funerary monuments of these types nearby. The second inscription has the usual content of Inscribed Lycian rock-cut tombs, of which there are many examples. The tomb’s owner cannot be identified for certain, due to the natural erosion of the inscription surface, but the name may be conjectured as be Armazapimi. The owner built the tomb for himself, his wife, his household and for bis mother’s descendants. Besides the regulations for burials, the inscription ends with a closure stating that anyone who violated the burial regulations, should be considered criminally liable to punishment by several Lycian institutions and divinities.

The periphery of Lepcis Magna: new data related to the ancient road network and land partition

AbstractThis contribution offers a new reading of the ancient landscape of the periphery of Lepcis Magna thanks mainly to the data from the survey campaigns carried out by the Archaeological Mission of Roma Tre University (2007–13) together with new archival research and GIS analysis. The new data are related to the road network of the Lepcitanian territory and its inner suburban areas. They include both the already known routes (essentially the coastalvia publicaand thevia in mediterraneum) and new roads here presented merging the new information with the already published archaeological evidence. Beside the road network, a new topographic reading of the south-east suburb shows also traces of an ancient land partition based on Roman measurements. This latter discovery would represent, up to now, the first evidence of a cadastrian land partition in Tripolitania.

All the Roads to Patavium: Morphology, Genesis and Development of the Roman Road Network Around Padua

Abstract This paper deals with the analysis of the ancient road network around the city of Padua, attempts to reconstruct its morphology and to define its genesis and development between the second Iron Age and Late Antiquity (6th/5th cent. BC to 6th cent. AD). The study follows a methodological approach that today we define as „archaeomorphological“, first proposed by E. Vion in the late 1980s. By applying this methodology to the Paduan territory, it was possible to identify a series of routes of probable ancient origin radially converging toward the center of Roman Patavium, and linking it to other urban centers in the region and to the minor centers located within its ager. The presence of Iron Age settlements along the path of many of these routes suggests that the development of such a road network likely begins in pre-Roman times, which also highlights the ancient strategic importance of Padua and its territory as a fundamental junction between the center and the North-East of the Italian peninsula. On the other hand, the Roman road network somehow survived into the Late Antiqueand Early Medieval times, always influencing the distribution of settlements and the orientation of churches, until it was for the greater part restored by the Commune of Padua over the 13th century.

Four thousand years of environmental change and human activity in the Cochabamba Basin, Bolivia

The Cochabamba Basin (Bolivia) is on the ancient road network connecting Andean and lowland areas. Little is known about the longevity of this trade route or how people responded to past environmental changes. The eastern end of the Cochabamba valley system constricts at the Vacas Lake District, constraining the road network and providing an ideal location in which to examine past human–environmental interactions. Multi-proxy analysis of sediment from Lake Challacaba has allowed a c. 4000 year environmental history to be reconstructed. Fluctuations in drought tolerant pollen taxa and calcium carbonate indicate two periods of reduced moisture availability ( c. 4000–3370 and c. 2190–1020 cal yr BP) compared to adjacent wetter episodes ( c. 3370–2190 and c. 1020 cal yr BP–present). The moisture fluctuations broadly correlate to El Niño/Southern Oscillation variations reported elsewhere. High charcoal abundance from c. 4000 to 2000 yr ago indicates continuous use of the ancient road network. A decline in charcoal and an increase in dung fungus ( Sporormiella) c. 1340 –1210 cal yr BP, suggests that cultural changes were a major factor in shaping the modern landscape. Despite undisputable impacts of human populations on the Polylepis woodlands today, we see no evidence of woodland clearance in the Challacaba record.

The Structure and Dynamics of Dry-Farming States in Upper Mesopotamia [and Comments and Reply

The Structure and Dynamics of Dry-Farming States in Upper Mesopotamia [and Comments and Reply

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World:Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World.

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World:Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World.

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World. Charles D. Trombold (editor). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 263 pp., 4 color plates, 9 tables, maps and figures. $69.95 (cloth). ISBN 0–521–38337–4.

: Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World . Charles D. Trombold.

: Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World . Charles D. Trombold.

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World.

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World.

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World

Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World

Ancient road networks and settlement hierarchies in the New World

List of contributors List of tables List of figures Acknowledgements Editor's preface Section I. Theoretical Considerations: 1. An introduction to the study of ancient New World road networks Charles D. Trombold 2. Paths and roads in evolutionary perspective Timothy Earle 3. Roads, routes and ties that bind Ross Hassig 4. Observations about research on prehistoric roads in South America John Hyslop Section II. Methodological Considerations: 5. Photointerpretation of Chaco Roads Margaret S. Obenauf 6. Analysis of prehistoric roadways in Chaco Canyon using remotely sensed digital data Thomas L. Sever and David W. Wagner 7. Prehistoric footpaths in Costa Rica: transportation and communication in a tropical rainforest Payson Sheets and Thomas L. Sever 8. Cross-cutting relationships: the relative dating of ancient roads on the north coast of Peru Colleen M. Beck 9. Network analysis and the study of past regional organisation Larry J. Gorenflo and Thomas L. Bell Section III. Regional Studies: 10. Political, economic, and demographic implications of the Chaco road network Frances Joan Mathien 11. The prehistoric road network at Pueblo Alto, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico Thomas C. Windes 12. The Sonoran connection: road and trail networks in the prehistoric period Carroll L. Riley, and Joni L. Manson 13. Causeways in the context of strategic planning in the La Quemada region, Zacatecas, Mexico Charles D. Trombold 14. Xanhari: protohistoric Tarascan routes Shirley Gorenstien and Helen Perlstein Pollard 15. The influence and legacy of Teotihuacan on regional routes and urban planning Thomas H. Charlton 16. The structure of the Aztec transport network Robert S. Santley 17. Roads, thoroughfares and avenues of power at Xochicalco, Mexico Kenneth Hirth 18. Sacbes of the northern Maya William J. Folan 19. Prehistoric roads and causeways of lowland tropical America William M. Denevan 20. The association between roads and polities: evidence for a Wari road system in Peru Katharina J. Schrieber 21. The Chincha roads: economics and symbolism Dwight T. Wallace.