Implementing a multi-criteria GIS analysis and predictive modelling to locate Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir, France
(2022) In Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science GISM01 20221Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Abstract
- Geographical Information Systems are a powerful tool for the processing of geographical data and can be used to implement predictive modelling for the purpose of archaeological research. The study presented here proposes a predictive model based on multi-criteria evaluation, and aims at analysing the parameters of known Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir, in southwest France. The main objective was to show that known decorated caves have enough parameters in common to create a predictive model that would describe zones of possible decorated caves’ occurrences in the area. A hybrid methodology was developed to extract significant pieces of information from the selected variables in order to design the predictive model.... (More)
- Geographical Information Systems are a powerful tool for the processing of geographical data and can be used to implement predictive modelling for the purpose of archaeological research. The study presented here proposes a predictive model based on multi-criteria evaluation, and aims at analysing the parameters of known Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir, in southwest France. The main objective was to show that known decorated caves have enough parameters in common to create a predictive model that would describe zones of possible decorated caves’ occurrences in the area. A hybrid methodology was developed to extract significant pieces of information from the selected variables in order to design the predictive model. Elevation, slope, aspect, and proximity to water were selected as the four variables to build the model. They were processed individually and were standardised using a numerical rating scale. Each criterion was weighted individually through the rating methodology in order to be aggregated using weighted linear combination. The model created showed that areas close to water streams were more likely to contain undiscovered decorated caves from the Upper Palaeolithic period. The validation statistic Kvamme Gain was finally used to assess the model and the value that was calculated showed that a large proportion of known caves were contained in a relatively restricted area, confirming the model’s predictions. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Many decorated caves dated Upper Palaeolithic are found in the Périgord noir, in southwest France. This study aims at using GIS to build a predictive model to describe areas of great archaeological interest for Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir. Indeed, locating new decorated caves could be useful to gather new historical and archaeological knowledge, but it could also help in the development of heritage-based tourism in the area. Four variables were used to describe the parameters of existing caves, namely elevation, slope, aspect, and the proximity of the caves to the hydrological network. The four variables were processed independently to produce individual probability maps for each criterion. They were then... (More)
- Many decorated caves dated Upper Palaeolithic are found in the Périgord noir, in southwest France. This study aims at using GIS to build a predictive model to describe areas of great archaeological interest for Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir. Indeed, locating new decorated caves could be useful to gather new historical and archaeological knowledge, but it could also help in the development of heritage-based tourism in the area. Four variables were used to describe the parameters of existing caves, namely elevation, slope, aspect, and the proximity of the caves to the hydrological network. The four variables were processed independently to produce individual probability maps for each criterion. They were then aggregated to design a unique map showing the different degrees of archaeological potential in the study area. It appears that areas with the highest probability of containing undiscovered Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves are located close to water streams. The validation statistic Kvamme Gain was finally used to assess the model, which appears as efficient. Indeed, the value produced in the validation process shows that a large proportion of known caves are contained in a relatively restricted area classified in the very high probability category. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9095895
- author
- Borgeais, Benjamin Bernard Fabien Gérard LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- GISM01 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Geography, GIS, MCDA, MCE, MCDM, MCA, predictive modelling, archaeology, decorated caves, Upper Palaeolithic, Périgord, Dordogne, Vézère, France
- publication/series
- Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science
- report number
- 146
- language
- English
- id
- 9095895
- date added to LUP
- 2022-07-08 10:39:53
- date last changed
- 2022-07-08 10:39:53
@misc{9095895,
abstract = {{Geographical Information Systems are a powerful tool for the processing of geographical data and can be used to implement predictive modelling for the purpose of archaeological research. The study presented here proposes a predictive model based on multi-criteria evaluation, and aims at analysing the parameters of known Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir, in southwest France. The main objective was to show that known decorated caves have enough parameters in common to create a predictive model that would describe zones of possible decorated caves’ occurrences in the area. A hybrid methodology was developed to extract significant pieces of information from the selected variables in order to design the predictive model. Elevation, slope, aspect, and proximity to water were selected as the four variables to build the model. They were processed individually and were standardised using a numerical rating scale. Each criterion was weighted individually through the rating methodology in order to be aggregated using weighted linear combination. The model created showed that areas close to water streams were more likely to contain undiscovered decorated caves from the Upper Palaeolithic period. The validation statistic Kvamme Gain was finally used to assess the model and the value that was calculated showed that a large proportion of known caves were contained in a relatively restricted area, confirming the model’s predictions.}},
author = {{Borgeais, Benjamin Bernard Fabien Gérard}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science}},
title = {{Implementing a multi-criteria GIS analysis and predictive modelling to locate Upper Palaeolithic decorated caves in the Périgord noir, France}},
year = {{2022}},
}