Mapping and prediction of archaeological sites of habitation by modern humans using GIS and expert mapping on the south coast of South Africa

Kleyn, Philippa May

Title: Mapping and prediction of archaeological sites of habitation by modern humans using GIS and expert mapping on the south coast of South Africa
Creator: Kleyn, Philippa May
Subject: Geographic information systems -- South Africa
Subject: Archaeological sites
Subject: Kitchen-middens -- South Africa
Subject: Prehistoric peoples -- South Africa
Subject: Prehistoric peoples -- Dwellings -- South Africa
Subject: Geological mapping -- South Africa
Subject: Coastal archaeology -- South Africa
Subject: Archaeological significance -- South Africa
Date Issued: 2015
Date: 2015
Type: Thesis
Type: Masters
Type: MSc
Identifier: vital:4890
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018662
Description: South Africa contains many archaeological resources including shell middens from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA). These shell middens give researchers insight into the behaviour of modern humans where the first fossil evidence appears in Africa around 200 000 years ago (Klein, 2008). Research into shell middens is therefore vital to understand the origin of human kind. This study investigates whether Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is a useful tool for predicting locations of unknown shell midden sites using the characteristics of known areas of modern human habitation. This was done using suitability analysis and expert mapping techniques. Ground truthing of the results of the desktop analysis revealed that GIS is not a useful tool for predicting sites of modern habitation as the characteristics that determine human habitation are too variable.
Format: 99 p.
Format: pdf
Publisher: Rhodes University
Publisher: Faculty of Science, Geography
Language: English
Rights: Kleyn, Philippa May

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