Using Monte Carlo Simulation for the Environmental Analysis of Small Archaeologic Datasets, with the Mesolithic in Northeast Belgium as a Case Study

Authors: Vanacker V.¹; Govers G.²; van Peer P.³; Verbeek C.⁴; Desmet J.⁵; Reyniers J.⁶

Source: Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 28, Number 6, June 2001 , pp. 661-669(9)

Publisher: Academic Press

Abstract:

In Europe often only small archaeological databases are available due to a lack of extensively prospected areas and the disturbance of the soils. Traditional statistical techniques do not allow location analyses on small archaeological databases, composed of dependent site data. Several authors have therefore developed alternative techniques, in which observed weight factors for the sample of the sites were compared with a distribution of weight factors obtained by simulating a randomly distributed site population of the same size. However, the Monte Carlo simulation does not require a prior defined weight factors. With this simplified technique, it becomes possible to use small archaeological datasets for demonstrating significant relations between environmental data and location behaviour in the past. An application of the technique to the Mesolithic in the northeast of Belgium has demonstrated that the proximity to water played a major role in the location behaviour. Small evolutions in the location choice could be linked with climate fluctuations in the Early Holocene. Copyright 2001 Academic Press

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Laboratory for Experimental Geomorphology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium 2: Laboratory for Experimental Geomorphology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium 3: Laboratory for Prehistory, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium 4: Laboratory for Prehistory, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium 5: Department of Land Management, National Institute for Agricultural Techniques, Burg. Ven Gansbekelaan 115, Merelbeke, B-9820, Belgium 6: Laboratory for Regional Geomorphology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium

Publication date: 2001-06-01

• In this: publication
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• In this Subject: Anthropology & Archeology
• By this author: Vanacker V. ;  Govers G. ;  van Peer P. ;  Verbeek C. ;  Desmet J. ;  Reyniers J.

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