Testing landscape as cultural expression

Abstract

Traditional archaeological location modelling, whilst very informative about spatial patterns across a 2D spectrum, can be limited in its contribution to understanding human choice about location. On the other hand, projects combining statistical tests with models influenced by individual immersion techniques have a far better chance of understanding the choices people made in regards to place and confirming the likelihood of these apparent choices. In the past we have statistically tested and confirmed the likelihood that the points on the horizon as indicated by monument alignments as a regional group, were statistically different in terms of direction, altitude and distance from the monuments, compared to any other place on the surrounding visible horizon for monuments within particular regions. That is, the chosen points on the horizon indicated by the alignments do not appear to be random. We then tested the likelihood that monuments were erected with astronomy in mind in different locations across Scotland, using simpler standing stone monuments by region, and some complex monuments individually, like stone circles. We have also used 3D panoramas to view how things were seen at each site from the viewpoint of an individual. We have now created new statistical approaches to test different questions we might have of these panoramas. Most pertinently, we now have a test that can assess whether the two dominant horizon shapes found, which affect which astronomical bodies can be seen at these monuments, were likely chosen by their builders or if their shapes are likely determined by chance factors.