More data on ancient spatial organization : a comparative study of individual survey projects in central Crete, Greece

Each archaeological survey project produces a dataset of archaeological remains with different standards. Notably, the attribution of a hierarchical rank (city, village, hamlet, farmstead, …) follows criteria that are not always clearly defined, and often different from one survey to another. This paper examines how the comparison of datasets from individual research projects can be used to study the evolution of the spatial organization of an ancient landscape. A special focus is given to two survey projects in central Crete, Greece: the Galatas and the Pediada survey projects. The extension of these two projects partly overlaps and enables us to compare data from an older, extensive survey project with data from a more recent intensive survey. Hence, the impact of survey methodology is assessed. Site location and site size data variability are also evaluated, and the hierarchical rank of settlement attributed by each survey project is compared. The variability in survey data from one project to another appears to give additional information on archaeological sites that should be considered while studying settlement patterns. Therefore, the comparison of multiple individual survey projects produces more data than the simple addition of already collected information.Each archaeological survey project produces a dataset of archaeological remains with different standards. Notably, the attribution of a hierarchical rank (city, village, hamlet, farmstead, …) follows criteria that are not always clearly defined, and often different from one survey to another. This paper examines how the comparison of datasets from individual research projects can be used to study the evolution of the spatial organization of an ancient landscape. A special focus is given to two survey projects in central Crete, Greece: the Galatas and the Pediada survey projects. The extension of these two projects partly overlaps and enables us to compare data from an older, extensive survey project with data from a more recent intensive survey. Hence, the impact of survey methodology is assessed. Site location and site size data variability are also evaluated, and the hierarchical rank of settlement attributed by each survey project is compared. The variability in survey data from one project to another appears to give additional information on archaeological sites that should be considered while studying settlement patterns. Therefore, the comparison of multiple individual survey projects produces more data than the simple addition of already collected information.C