MILESTONE

Jadranka Verdonkschot (Archaeology)

This project proposes testing the viability of a spatial model for megalithic landscapes. The underlying hypothesis is that megalithic monuments are cultural MILESTONEs, as they evidence the first domestication of space. Through the model of megalithic space, it is proposed that these mounds served as more than just burial sites; imposing and perpetuating socio-culturaal structures, shaping societies' relationships with their environment.

By studying the spatial organization of megalithic landscapes, we aim to uncover patterns and regularities guiding societies’ thought. Key to this are the concepts of visibility and navigation within the landscape. The first, conjectural, model of megalithic space was formulated with arguments based on these two elements, which could be confirmed using GIS-methods.

Now, a state-of-the-art multiproxy & multicore paleoenvironmental reconstruction is proposed, to study environmental conditions (vegetation, land-use, topographical features) during the Neolithic period accurately. This data will be incorporated in GIS analyses, testing the visibility and navigation, which thus far have not considered environmental factors in detail.

Moreover, MILESTONE aims to contextualize its findings through multi-scalar comparative case studies. By examining megalithic sites beyond the Barbanza Mountain Range, it is aimed to assess the model's applicability in different megalithic contexts on different scales: megalithic concentration (Barbanza Mountain Range/Monte do Chá/O Suido) – regional megalithism (Barbanza Mountain Range/Barbanza Peninsula) – supra-regional megalithism (Galicia) – European megalithism. The research will make an approximation to these different scales applying different levels of depth of analysis.

Computational modelling methods, including virtual agent simulations within an Active Inference framework, are explored too. These simulations aim to simulate human-environment interactions and provide complementary level of interpretation. At the same time, a contribution to the theoretical framework of Active Inference is made, adding a social layer to it.

The objective of this research project is to assess the viability of a Model of Spatial Organisation of the Megalithic Landscape. Thus, modelling megalithic space is, both what we do in this study and what megalithic people did in their lives. This objective translates into a series of smaller objectives; methodological working plan of the project: 1) Producing a data infrastructure for the project; 2) Reconstructing the built landscape; 3) Reconstructing the past environments; 4) Studying the “missing” domestic space; 5) Improving spatial analyses by incorporating new (paleoenvironmental) data; 6) Testing validity of the structural model and its rules through simulation computational methods; 7; Testing the validity of the defined structural model and its rules on different scales; 8) Making the results of this research accessible to a wider public: dissemination and training

Overall, this research project aims to improve our understanding of not only megalithic landscapes, but also megalithic rationality. Through a combination of scientific methods, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, comparative case studies, and computational simulations, we aim to shed light on the mentioned research objectives. In this process, a significant impact is expected on multiple international scientific, technical and social levels.

Megalithism. Paleoenvironment. Monumentalism.

01/09/2024 - 01/09/2027

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