Are We Creating Our Past?

Urnfield Culture hilltop settlements are often associated with a predominant function in the settlement pattern. This study challenged the idea of centrality by means of density estimates and spatial inhomogeneous explanatory statistics. Reflecting on the differences in spatial trends and material c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Documenta praehistorica 2020-12, Vol.47
Main Author: Chiara G. M. Girotto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
central place
geospatial statistics
methodology
social theory
Urnfield Culture
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Urnfield Culture hilltop settlements are often associated with a predominant function in the settlement pattern. This study challenged the idea of centrality by means of density estimates and spatial inhomogeneous explanatory statistics. Reflecting on the differences in spatial trends and material culture, no conclusive evidence for a consolidation of power, economic, or cultic dominance was observed. The dataset strongly points towards the inapplicability of commonly used parametric and/or homogenous spatial algorithms in archaeology. Tracer variables as well as the methodological and theoretical limitations are critically reviewed and a methodological framework to increase the reproducibility and reusability of archaeological research is proposed.
ISSN:1408-967X
1854-2492
DOI:10.4312/dp.47.29