Changes In Settlement Patterns Research Articles

Settlement Pattern Study and the Search of the Origin of Chinese Civilization

1. Settlement pattern study is one of the important areas in archaeology. I propose to define “settlement pattern” as “the housing arrangement of a human group.” Settlement is not an isolated house. It is the form in which a group of people of variable number living in close proximity. That is to say, it is the making of a settlement or the making of a group of settlements in a region by a human group. Settlement pattern is analogous to a mirror. It reflects the social organization and structure of the society that constitutes the settlements. Changes in settlement pattern are pertained to the development of human society and the changes in the organization and structure of the society. The archaeological study of settlement pattern is also called “settlement archaeology.” According to my understanding, the goal of archaeological study of settlement pattern is to monitor the social relationship of the past. It is a study of the past social organization and structure and the relationship between human group and environment. It provides important clues to the development of past societies through the study of the background and factors leading to the changes in settlement pattern. 2. The earliest settlement pattern study in China can be traced back to the excavations at Yinxu 殷墟 site in Anyang 安阳 in the 1930s and the excavations at Banpo 半坡 Neolithic settlement site in Xi’an 西安 in the first half of 1950s. To date, settlement sites that have been more-or-less completely excavated include Jiangzhai 姜 寨 at Lintong 临潼 and Xinglongwa 兴隆洼 at Aohan 敖汉 Banner, Inner Mongolia. Before the early half of 1990s, settlement pattern study in China was limited to the study of single settlement site. These studies concentrated on the questions of relative chronology and cultural characteristics of the site. They were inadequate in the pursuits of settlement plan and inter-settlement relationship. This weakness was attributable to the lack of the understanding of the importance of settlement clusters and the deficiency of in-depth settlement survey information. In recent years, Chinese archaeologists in collaboration with colleagues from other countries, have conducted full-coverage settlement surveys in the Huanhe 洹河 river valley, the Yi-Luo 伊洛 river valley and the Yinghe 颖河 river valley in Henan 河南, southeastern Shandong 山东 and Juxian 莒县 in Shandong, the Banzhijian 半枝箭 river valley in southeastern Inner Mongolia. They have revealed a large number of archaeological sites. The newly discovered sites in some of these areas increase the number of previously known sites in the same areas by several times! This is an indication of the importance of systematic and detailed settlement surveys. They lay the foundation for settlement pattern study. Settlement pattern study can be divided into synchronic and diachronic studies. Each of these categories can be further partitioned into microscopic and macroscopic studies.

Locating public libraries in a multicultural city: A spatial mismatch?

Locating public libraries in a multicultural city: A spatial mismatch?

Clay, Conflict, and Village Aggregation: Compositional Analyses of Pre-Classic Pottery from Taos, New Mexico

As was the case throughout much of north-central New Mexico, the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries marked a period of rapid settlement pattern change in the Taos District as dispersed pithouse and small pueblo hamlets were replaced by tightly clustered pueblos and ultimately by the emergence of large aggregated villages. Here we consider the effects of this transition on the manner in which local potters procured raw clay for the production of black-on-white ceramics. Adopting the Rio Grande del Rancho drainage as our study area, we first outline the major clay sources within the drainage. We then report on neutron activation and petrographic analyses of both modern clays as well as archaeological ceramics from sites that span the settlement transition in question. These analyses suggest that settlement aggregation was accompanied by a noticeable reduction in the diversity and quality of clay sources used by local potters, most likely as a result of newly restricted procurement strategies associated with the formation of buffer zones between village aggregates. The paper concludes with a consideration of the implications of this trend with respect to the economic situation of early large villages in the area.

Aztec Teotihuacan: Political Processes at a Postclassic and Early Colonial City-State in the Basin of Mexico

Teotihuacan, located in the northeastern Basin of Mexico, is best known for its Preclassic and Classic period occupations (ca. 150 B.C.–A.D. 700) but was also an important city-state during the Aztec and Early Colonial periods, circa A.D. 1200–1650. Much has been written about political relations among Aztec city-states in the basin. However, the internal political structures of most city-states remain largely unknown because colonial chroniclers focused mostly on Tenochtitlan-Mexico City and collected little information on the 40 to 50 smaller city-states in the basin. This article addresses the internal political organization of Aztec Teotihuacan and how it changed over time based on analyses of pottery data from the surface collections of the Teotihuacan Mapping Project. A seriation of sherd assemblages using correspondence analysis provides a chronological framework for diachronic analyses. Changes through time pertaining to interresidential status differences and the spatial distributions of elite residences suggest a gradual process of political decentralization. Additionally, pottery and obsidian data, in conjunction with settlement pattern changes, reveal a relocation of the city-state center in the late 1300s or early 1400s, possibly indicating an episode of political upheaval or reorganization.

CAUSALIDAD O CONCURRENCIA, RELACIONES ENTRE CAMBIOS AMBIENTALES Y SOCIALES EN LOS CAZADORES RECOLECTORES DURANTE LA TRANSICIóN ENTRE EL HOLOCENO MEDIO Y TARDÍO (COSTA DEL SEMIÁRIDO DE CHILE)

Palaeoenvironmental research along the Chilean semiarid coast line (31o50'S) has revealed interesting contemporaneous trends in the transition from arid to humid phases, and differences in intensity of human occupation in the area. Even though environmental variation is contemporary to changes in settlement and mobility patterns, these do not fully explain modifications observed in the archaeological record. In this paper, we discuss settlement patterns and mobility during Mid to Late Holocene, a well-documented period from the local pollen record (post ~6,100 cal. years B.P.), on the basis of contextual variables, radiocarbon chronology, zooarchaeological record and artifact assemblages. Our objective is to assess environmental causality versus co-occurrence as factors responsible for changes in hunter gatherers' conduct in the study area. Finally, we propose cultural change as the result of several integrated variables operating contemporaneously

Unconquered Lacandon Maya: Ethnohistory and Archaeology of Indigenous Cultural Change

Unconquered Lacandon Maya: Ethnohistory and Archaeology of Indigenous Cultural Change

Subsistence change, landscape use, and changing site elevation at the Pleistocene–Holocene transition in the Dordogne of southwestern France

The dramatic topography of the Dordogne Valley region of southwestern France has long been recognized as an influence on prehistoric human settlement and subsistence patterns. Previous research on late Pleistocene settlement patterns in this region implies that, as cold-adapted higher-ranked resources became scarce in the lowlands, site location in the Dordogne and adjacent river valleys should shift towards higher-elevation areas during the period from 18,000 to 6500 years BP. This study employs a GIS-based analysis to evaluate the changing settlement patterns in the Dordogne region at this time. While no significant changes in elevation were found during this period, site elevation variance does appear to increase significantly between the Magdalenian and the Sauveterrian. Explanations for this finding are explored using zooarchaeological data from Moulin du Roc, one of the sites in the data set. Results suggest that the Magdalenian period in the Dordogne may not have been as resource-rich as is often assumed.

European Regional Studies: A Coming of Age?

This article reviews current developments in European regional studies. A brief history of settlement archaeology as practiced in Europe is followed by a discussion of new approaches to regional analysis and surface survey. I argue that recent, steady investments in the technology, methods, and theory of regional archaeological analysis and surface survey have stimulated advances in the study of settlement patterns and settlement pattern change through time in many parts of Europe. When innovative technologies (e.g., remote sensing, GPS, GIS), methods (e.g., geoarchaeology, “siteless” survey), and new theoretical frameworks (both processual and postprocessual) have been combined, breakthroughs in our understanding of European settlement have resulted. In the last half of the article, I describe some of these breakthroughs in a broad discussion of European settlement history, beginning with the earliest prehistory of Europe through the Middle Ages. Shifts in perspective are particularly apparent for phases of transition: from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic, Paleolithic to Mesolithic to Neolithic, and with the rise and expansion of states.

Land Use Zoning and Human Diversity: Exploring the Connection

City planners are rallying against social and economic segregation by enacting regulatory changes, particularly zoning reform. Land use zoning, many argue, is one of the most potent tools planners have to enact change in human settlement patterns, and the goal of that change is often to foster greater levels of socioeconomic and land use diversity. This paper presents a method for connecting land use zoning and spatial patterns of diversity explicitly. It addresses the question of whether, and in what ways, zoning and human diversity are interrelated. Two fundamental questions arise in attempting to use zoning to foster greater diversity: What is the current relationship between human diversity and zoning, and second, how can zoning, given local experience, be changed to effectuate more diversity. To answer these questions, patterns of zoning by parcel and patterns of socioeconomic diversity were evaluated for the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, Ill. A form of the Simpson Diversity Index was used to measure socioeconomic and zoning diversity by census block group. The results showed an association between diverse residential zoning and income diversity, but other measures of social diversity were not strongly correlated.

Observations on earthquake resistance of traditional timber-framed houses in Turkey

The aim of this study is to establish the earthquake behaviour of traditional timber-framed houses in Turkey and their technical features to serve as a guide in their conservation. This paper first discusses the destructive effects of changing settlement patterns on the traditional building stock and explores earthquake damage on traditional Turkish buildings, analysing the 1894-İstanbul, 1970-Gediz and finally 1999-Kocaeli earthquakes. A short definition is then provided of timber-framed building methods in Anatolia, and the earthquake damages occurring in them are given. The following section briefly discusses the earthquake behaviour of timber-framed constructions in different countries. The paper concludes with the interpretation of features that increase the earthquake resistance of timber-framed buildings, which are related to the selection of land and the use of the lath and plaster technique, timber lintels, braces and nails.

Salvage Excavations as a Source for Reconstructing Settlement History in Ancient Israel

Most parts of Israel were excavated intensively, and most of the country was also covered by surveys. Our knowledge of settlement patterns and distribution during the various periods is very comprehensive — probably more so than in any other region in the world. Using data from the numerous excavations and from the detailed surveys, many studies have made use of various and sundry methods, in order to learn about the settlements and the population of the country, about changes in settlement patterns and distribution, and about periods of crises, decline, or growth.Past studies, however, have ignored an entire array of findings that could have improved, refined, and even changed the familiar picture of the settlement history of ancient Israel. Thousands of salvage excavations ('rescue digs') were carried out over the years, and especially in the last decade, but these have not been dealt with systematically. These excavations provide comprehensive and reliable information, which is likely to change the picture of the history of settlement in some periods. While a comprehensive project of collecting and analysing the published data on these excavations is now in progress, the present article aims at drawing attention to this neglected source of information. We will demonstrate the advantages of this analysis as compared to other sources of information, and will show how this information, when combined with other sources of information, is changing our understanding of the settlement history of certain periods, including the transition from the Iron Age I–II and the formation of the Israelite monarchy, the nature of the Neo-Babylonian period, and the outcomes of the Jewish revolts against the Romans. The paper ends with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the various sources of information, i.e., planned excavations, surveys, and salvage excavations.

"Change and continuity in ruban settlement patterns in Palaestina Tertia: the case of Christian Areopolis (Rabba, Jordan)

"Change and continuity in ruban settlement patterns in Palaestina Tertia: the case of Christian Areopolis (Rabba, Jordan)

Late Neolithic Plant Remains from Northern China: Preliminary Results from Liangchengzhen, Shandong

Late Neolithic Plant Remains from Northern China: Preliminary Results from Liangchengzhen, Shandong

Apuntes sobre el Período Intermedio Tardío y la presencia inca en la cuenca alta del río Ricrán, sierra central del Perú

Archaeological data obtained from Inca sites located in the upper Ricran valley (central sierra of Peru) is considered against other evidence from the Late Intermediate Period. This leads us to evaluate and characterize regional inca occupation through an analysis of the changes in settlement patterns, of the buildings of probable inca inspiration, and of State pottery in local villages. Agricultural terraces, remains of roads and what possibly constitutes a ceremonial site linked to the sacred mountain of Apohuayhuay nearby, suggests this area was integrated to the provincial centers of Hatun Xauxa and Tarmatambo, a production center of different goods for the Empire and as residence of a regional deity or huaca.

L'analyse statistique des implantations des sites du Néolithique ancien et moyen dans le Bassin parisien : l'apport de quelques critères spatiaux

The aim of this article is to study changes in settlement patterns in the Early and Middle Neolithic of the Paris Basin, using data on site location. The study thus contributes to a better understanding of the broad sequence of events in an area where environmental evidence is generally quite scarce. The approach is based on multivariate statistical analysis. A wide range of spatial criteria on site location is exploited. Period by period, the results show episodes of expansion and contraction, involving regional specificities as well as some long-standing choices. This study also provides the basis for a more general reflection on the quantitative treatment of spatial databases in archaeology at a time when geographic information systems are being increasingly used.

The History and Prehistory of Pearling in the Persian Gulf

AbstractThe paper presents an analysis and synthesis of historical and archaeological data on pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf. The history of pearling in the region is reviewed, from the earliest possible references to the mid 20th century. Economic data from the 18th–20th centuries CE is analysed in detail, to de fine the economic course of the pearling industry during that time, and assess the impact on human settlement in the region. The archaeological data for pearl fishing are then examined, from the 6th millennium BCE onwards, and compared to the historical evidence. The results of archaeological survey in the Abu Dhabi islands region are then taken as a case study, and changes in settlement patterns are related to the historical trajectory of the pearling industry. It is observed that the regional economy became overwhelmingly dependent on the pearl trade in recent centuries, and was increasingly subject to the demands of the global market. Cette étude présente une analyse et une synthèse des données historiques et archéologiques sur la pêche des perles dans le Golfe arabo-persique. L'histoire de la pêche des perles dans la région est passée en revue, depuis les plus anciennes références connues qui remontent au milieu du 20e siècle. Les données économiques du 18e au 20e siècle sont analysées en détail pour dé finir l'évolution de l'industrie perlière pendant cette période et évaluer son incidence sur le peuplement de la région. Les données archéologiques sur la pêche des perles, examinées depuis le 6ème millénaire avant J.-C., ont été comparées aux données historiques. Les résultats des reconnaissances archéologiques dans les îles de la région d'Abu Dhabi sont alors présentées comme étude de cas et les modi fications de con figuration de l'habitat sont reliées à l'évolution historique de l'industrie perlière. On remarque que l'économie de cette région est devenue presque entièrement dépendante du commerce des perles dans les siècles récents, et qu'elle était de plus en plus assujettie à la demande du marché mondial.

Rural-to-urban migration in Latin America: an update and thoughts on the model.

Urbanization is an important demographic phenomenon, and in Latin America it transformed the settlement pattern from rural to predominantly urban in less than 50 years. Understanding the biological consequences of this change in settlement pattern is an important challenge for human biologists. One approach to understanding the effects of urban environments on human biology has been to study rural-to-urban migrants. In Latin America this research has shown that 1) the fertility of migrants tends to be intermediate between that of rural and urban populations, and 2) migrants tend to suffer higher rates of mortality and morbidity, at least initially, than long-term urban residents. There is some indication that the actual physical conditions under which migrants live in urban areas-and these tend to be among the most impoverished-are more important variables than migrant status per se. Studying rural-to-urban migrants requires careful attention to a number of conceptual issues. One issue is the definition of rural and urban. These two types of settlements are no longer as distinct as they once were, and "urban" can mean very different things in different places. Another issue is the complexity of current migration patterns. The classic case of people moving from a distinctly rural setting to a distinctly urban one and staying there for the remainder of their lives is not the norm. Third, the urban environments of large cities are extraordinarily heterogeneous environments with enormous socioeconomic differentials in health. Hence, it matters where in the urban environment the migrants live.

Settlement Patterns and Development of Social Complexity in the Yiluo Region, North China

This international, collaborative, and interdisciplinary archaeological program examines changes in settlement patterns from the early Neolithic to the full development of states (ca. 6500–200 B.C.) in the Yiluo region of central north China. Full-coverage regional surveys are integrated with geoarchaeological investigations, ethnobotanical studies, and lithic analyses. The data are used to assess changes in population, environment, land use, agricultural production, and craft production, and to test theoretical propositions regarding the emergence and development of social complexity. Research results suggest a significant sociopolitical transformation taking place in the Yiluo basin during the Erlitou period, including the development of the first four-tiered settlement hierarchy, marked population nucleation, and economic integration between urban center and rural areas. These changes indicate the emergence of the earliest state in China.

Beyond foraging and collecting: evolutionary change in hunter-gatherer settlement systems

Foreword L.R. Binford, A. Johnson. 1. Introduction: Beyond Foraging and Collecting: Evolutionary Change in Hunter-Catherer Settlement Systems Junko Habu, B. Fitzhugh. Section I: Regional scale processes of settlement pattern change. Section introduction. 2. Going by boat: the forager-collector continuum at sea K.M. Ames. 3. Jomon collectors and foragers: long-term changes in settlement systems among prehistoric hunter-gathers in Japan Junko Habu. 4. Logistical organization, social complexity, and the collapse of prehistoric Thule whaling societies in the central Canadian arctic archipelago J.M. Savelle. 5. Natufian - A complex society of foragers O. Bar-Yosef. Section II. Microevolutionary approaches to long term hunter-gatherer settlement change. Section introduction. 6. Mobility, search modes, and food-getting technology: from Magdalenian to Early Mesolithic in the Upper Danube Basin L.E. Fisher. 7. Long-term land tenure systems in Central Brazil: evolutionary ecology, risk-management, and social geography R. Kipnis. 8. Central Place Foraging and prehistoric pinyon utilizatin in the Great Basin D.W. Zeanah. 9. Residential and logistical strategies in the evolution of complex hunter-gatherers on the Kodiak Archipelago B. Fitzhugh. Section III: Beyond ecological approaches to hunter-gatherer settlement change. Section introduction. 10. Sacred power and seasonal settlement on the central northwest coast A. Cannon. 11. Long-term change and short-term shifting in the economy of Philippine forager-traders L.L. Junker. 12. Explaining changes in settlement dynamics across transformations of modes of production: from hunting to herding in the south-central Andes M. Aldenderfer. Afterword: Beyond foraging and collecting: retrospect and prospect T.D. Price. Index

Change and Continuity in Urban Settlement Patterns in Palaestina Tertia

Change and Continuity in Urban Settlement Patterns in Palaestina Tertia