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Point Pattern Analysis as Tool for Digital Geoarchaeology: A Case Study of Megalithic Graves in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

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Digital Geoarchaeology

Part of the book series: Natural Science in Archaeology ((ARCHAEOLOGY))

Abstract

In this contribution, we apply different methods of spatial and geomorphometric analysis in order to present a general approach of data exploration in areas where detailed local information is absent. Our data are based on locations of megalithic graves from Funnel Beaker societies (3700–2800 BCE) in the area of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Using these locations, we apply methods of point pattern analysis in order to reconstruct the spatial processes that created the sample: We use density-based measures to show the influence of first-order effects on the dataset. While first-order effects are related to the underlying areal characteristics of the point locations and hence are determinant of their intensity, second-order effects are the result of interactions between points. We conduct distance-related approaches, e.g. focusing on nearest-neighbour characteristics, in order to investigate the interaction between the points. The point pattern analyses are complemented by integrating geomorphometric measures that are indirectly indicative for some general environmental conditions, even in prehistoric times. This helps (a) to relate first-order effects to societal or environmental features and (b) to understand the specific pattern of interactions between the points. The necessary raw data in the form of digital elevation models are freely available for large parts of the globe. All analyses are conducted using free and open-source software in order to provide their limitless application.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that the term event is used here in the technical sense of spatial point pattern analysis: In a spatial point pattern, locations are referred to as events in order to distinguish them from other points of the region in question (Diggle 2013, 1).

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Acknowledgements

Daniel Knitter is grateful to the Excellence Cluster Topoi—The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations—for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Physical Geography—Landscape Ecology and Geoinformation, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Str. 14, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Daniel Knitter

  2. Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Johanna-Mestorf-Straße 2–6, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Oliver Nakoinz

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  1. Daniel Knitter
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Correspondence to Daniel Knitter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geography, Physical Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Christoph Siart

  2. Institute of Geography, Physical Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Markus Forbriger

  3. Institute of Geography, Physical Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Olaf Bubenzer

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Knitter, D., Nakoinz, O. (2018). Point Pattern Analysis as Tool for Digital Geoarchaeology: A Case Study of Megalithic Graves in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In: Siart, C., Forbriger, M., Bubenzer, O. (eds) Digital Geoarchaeology. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25316-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25316-9_4

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