Archaeological analysis of settlement patterns and environmental parameters on a regional scale (macro level)
Stefan Suhrbier, Silviane Scharl
Diachronic change and regional diversity of settlement patterns during the 5th mil. BC will be identified and characterised by a settlement archaeological approach. As a first step, data on settlement sites will be collected for the Rhineland, Westphalia and Main-Franconia in order to refine our knowledge on the position and duration of settlements. In a 2nd project phase settlement sites of the 5th mil. BC of the Wetterau/Hesse will be analysed. In the context of our project, peripheral settlement areas are of particular interest as a change of settlement patterns and land use becomes visible by expansion processes into peripheral areas (fig. 1). Therefore, we will define three zones (core area, fringe area and peripheral area) for a comparative analysis of settlement patterns and environmental parameters. The analysis aims at uncovering chronological and spatial transformations in the settlement patterns of the 5th mil. BC which allow for conclusions on settlement structures and organisation as well as population dynamics. The analysis will be supplemented by point pattern analysis.
As a second step, the role of environmental parameters like soil quality, water regime, climatic and topographic factors will be analysed. Although they do not represent prehistoric conditions, in their spatial relations they can be used as a proxy for assessing prehistoric choice of location. The diachronic comparison of the regions Rhineland, Westphalia and Main-Franconia will provide information on when and how the choice of location during the 5th mil. BC (the phases of Hinkelstein, Grossgartach, Roessen, Bischheim and early Michelsberg) has changed and started to differentiate.