Hierarchical typology and settlement pattern modelling at
micro-regional scale
Résumé
This reflexion comes within the framework of the ArchaeDyn project, “Spatial dynamics of settlement
and natural resources : toward an integrated analysis over the long term from prehistory to
Middle Ages”, coordinated by F. Favory and L. Nuninger.
The aim is to highlight the main tendencies of the settlement in various spaces (Center and South
of France as well as the area of Doljenska in Slovenia), from the Iron Age to the end of the Middle
Ages. The adopted approach is one of a long term survey, which makes possible to fully understand
the perceptible changes and continuities in the dynamics of the settlement. The perception
of the space occupation is realized through the settlement vestiges and the study is based on
data from field survey.
To answer the fixed ambition, it is necessary to work on mutual and homogeneous methodological
bases and to select zones offering a resolution and a good quality of information. The
first step of work consisted in wondering about the data reliability (standard of sites taken into
account, chronological resolution, information available on each site) and the representativeness
of the maps settlement in each area (space continuity of the data). On that occasion, an important
reflexion was also engaged around the concept of site and on its perception on the ground
(identifying information and definition according to the periods).
From the perspective of an interregional comparison of the settlement, there is in addition essential
that the settlements should be characterized according to identical criteria. The settlements
were subjected to statistical methods of analysis of the data (Correspondence Factorial Analysis
and Ascending Hierarchical clustering), which makes possible to operate an automatic classification
of the settlements by analyzing the structure of the processed data. The development of a
hierarchical classification made possible to apprehend the organization of the settlement in each
area, by highlighting the part played by each site in the structuring of the settlement network.
This approach also made possible to progress in the definition of settlement indicators common
to the whole of studied geographical sectors.
After having identified the various forms of the settlement and their role in the structuring of the
settlement, the aim is to replacing these settlements in their chronological and space dimension,
by resorting to a Geographic Information System, and comparing the intensity and the stability
of the occupation of various spaces, over the long term.
and natural resources : toward an integrated analysis over the long term from prehistory to
Middle Ages”, coordinated by F. Favory and L. Nuninger.
The aim is to highlight the main tendencies of the settlement in various spaces (Center and South
of France as well as the area of Doljenska in Slovenia), from the Iron Age to the end of the Middle
Ages. The adopted approach is one of a long term survey, which makes possible to fully understand
the perceptible changes and continuities in the dynamics of the settlement. The perception
of the space occupation is realized through the settlement vestiges and the study is based on
data from field survey.
To answer the fixed ambition, it is necessary to work on mutual and homogeneous methodological
bases and to select zones offering a resolution and a good quality of information. The
first step of work consisted in wondering about the data reliability (standard of sites taken into
account, chronological resolution, information available on each site) and the representativeness
of the maps settlement in each area (space continuity of the data). On that occasion, an important
reflexion was also engaged around the concept of site and on its perception on the ground
(identifying information and definition according to the periods).
From the perspective of an interregional comparison of the settlement, there is in addition essential
that the settlements should be characterized according to identical criteria. The settlements
were subjected to statistical methods of analysis of the data (Correspondence Factorial Analysis
and Ascending Hierarchical clustering), which makes possible to operate an automatic classification
of the settlements by analyzing the structure of the processed data. The development of a
hierarchical classification made possible to apprehend the organization of the settlement in each
area, by highlighting the part played by each site in the structuring of the settlement network.
This approach also made possible to progress in the definition of settlement indicators common
to the whole of studied geographical sectors.
After having identified the various forms of the settlement and their role in the structuring of the
settlement, the aim is to replacing these settlements in their chronological and space dimension,
by resorting to a Geographic Information System, and comparing the intensity and the stability
of the occupation of various spaces, over the long term.
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