Analysis of Spatial Distribution of the Neolithic Settlements in Zhengzhou-Luoyang Area by Using GIS

• Published in: Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 284-287; pp. 1518 - 1522
• Main Authors: Qiao, Wen Wen, Liang, Jing Tao, Bi, Shuo Ben, Wang, Qi Fu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zurich Trans Tech Publications Ltd 2013
• Subjects: GIS; Settlement; Neolithic Period; Spatial Distribution
• ISBN: 3037856122; 9783037856123
• ISSN: 1660-9336; 1662-7482; 1662-7482
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.284-287.1518

Zhengzhou-Luoyang area is one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization and contains more than 1000 settlements of the Neolithic Age. To study the spatial distribution of the Neolithic settlements in the region, this paper applied the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate the relationship between site locations and environmental variables. The results of GIS analysis show that the settlement distribution of each culture period has a clustered pattern and obvious spatial features. Most of the settlements tend to be located in flat areas with low elevation and close to rivers and arable soils. Based on the environment variables, a Neolithic settlement site predictive model was generated to predict the archaeological probability of any given area in Zhengzhou-Luoyang area. The predictive model and distribution characteristics obtained here can help better understand the Neolithic man-land relationship and provide guidance for future field archaeology.