On the use of integrated process-models to reconstruct prehistoric occupation wiht examples from Sandy Flanders (Belgium)

Reconstructing palaeolandscapes is challenging because of the limited amount of basic useable data, which often have a scattered temporal and geographical distribution. In order to obtain a continuous image of past landscapes, methods are required to interpolate landscape characteristics in both space and time. To improve the understanding of observed distributions of pre- and protohistoric sites in Flanders (Belgium) by means of a landscape reconstruction, the application of different process-models in the soil-water-landscape in an interdisciplinary approach is proposed. These process-models include a digital elevation model (cf. Werbrouck I. et al.), a hydrological model, a pedogenesis model and a land evaluation model. Due to the multiple disciplines involved, no single model can be used but a model framework is defined in which the various discipline-specific models are integrated. All of these models are interconnected: the output of one model is used as an input to another model. This implies that when integrating these different models certain considerations have to be made concerning grain, extent and coverage. The model framework is being constructed and tested for the area of Sandy Flanders, a relatively flat and low-lying area situated at the southern border of the cover sand region of the NW European plain. This is one of the most intensively archaeologically surveyed areas of NW Europe. Numerous, generally small and elongated sand dunes, shallow mires and wet depressions were formed during the Late Pleniglacial and the Late Glacial. One of these palaeolakes, the Depression of the Moervaart, was ca. 15 km long and 2,5km wide and has an infilling of lake marl, alternated with peat. Next to the model framework, this project on site distribution in Sandy Flanders also covers intense field surveys, archaeological as well as palaeoecological and geomorphological (cf. De Reu J. et al.)