Least Cost Paths analysis to reconstruct mobility patterns and procurement strategies for lithic resources in Corsica and Sardinia

Sara Corona, María Soto, Carlo Lugliè

Abstract

Is it possible to reconstruct the patterns of territorial mobility and the procurement strategies of early humans in island environment based on the supply of abiotic resources? This paper tackles the outcomes of a route simulation with GIS open-source technology for chert and obsidian procurement in prehistoric Corsica-Sardinia based on the principle of minimum energy cost. Particular focus is placed on research problems, as the method is applied for the first time on this geographical and chronological scale. The aim is to highlight both the shortcomings and the potential of Least Cost Path Analyses for small-scale studies of raw material procurement and circulation. It is argued that the model can be strengthened by improving the availability and reliability of the data used as variables for the analysis.

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IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2022-032.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc4-ARC-2022.032

IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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