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Expanding omnidirectional geospatial modeling for archaeology: A case study of dispersal in a “New England” colonial frontier (ca. 1600–1750)

Published Article

United States

Publication date: February 1, 2023

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This study uses omnidirectional geospatial modeling and Circuitscape to analyze early colonial dispersal across the Great Bay Estuary in New Hampshire and Maine. By integrating resistance surfaces and landscape variables, it advances archaeological understanding of movement, connectivity, and settler interactions with complex estuarine environments.

Subject Tags

  • Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
  • Physical Sciences

Abstract

Geospatial landscape connectivity modeling techniques are widely used in archaeological studies of past human movement patterns and landscape interactions. Recent advancements in the development of omnidirectional modeling approaches present new avenues for research design and require introduction into the field. In this paper, we present a novel adaptation of a point-based omnidirectional model design that we use to advance understandings of early colonial expansion (ca. 1600–1750 CE) into a social and ecological frontier landscape in the Northeastern United States, the Great Bay Estuary. We build case-specific resistance surfaces and use Circuitscape modeling to simulate the outward dispersal of settler colonists from the landscape's central water bodies while accounting for the influences of both water-based and overland travel, as well as the availability of specific natural resources. The outcome of the simulation performs well when tested statistically against the archaeological record and the value of multivariate model parameterization is highlighted both quantitatively and qualitatively. This case study offers a framework others could use to advance their own contextually-informed modeling of past human dispersal and landscape interactions.

Citation

Kelly, D. R., Clark, M. M., Palace, M., & Howey, M. C. (2023). Expanding omnidirectional geospatial modeling for archaeology: A case study of dispersal in a “New England” colonial frontier (ca. 1600–1750). Journal of Archaeological Science, 150, 105710.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105710

TNC Authors