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Connecting Posthumanist Thinking with GIS Practice: Explorations of a Prehistoric Heathland Landscape in Jutland, Denmark

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Abstract

While developments in GIS technology and methodologies continue to add great value to archaeological research, they have often fallen somewhat out of step with theoretical developments elsewhere in the discipline. The result is a technology that focuses on the practically possible—new questions emerge as and when the technology allows. While more experimental approaches exist in some sub-disciplines, such as studies of the North American Southwest or contemporary archaeology, these are not regularly incorporated elsewhere. This paper explores the possibilities for GIS-based research to engage with current theoretical debates surrounding posthumanism, and particularly assemblage thinking. A case study focuses on the European prehistoric heathlands, arguing that limiting our investigations to traditional realms of GIS practice means that much of the detail that defines different types of landscape disappears from view. By taking inspiration from assemblage thinking, I explore the multiple species that make up heathlands and define how they were experienced and interacted with in the Early Bronze Age of Denmark. Thus, I argue that GIS and posthumanism have much to offer one another in archaeological practice.

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Notes

  1. https://github.com/Gooong/LeastCostPath

  2. Parameters used for VSMOKE model: Lat: 56.363, Long: 9.219; Fire size: 1 acre, duration 1 hour; Ignition Method: Backing/Spot; Fuel type: Shrub – Mod; Fuel Moisture Scenario: Very Dray; PM 2.5 Emission Factor: 27 llbs/ton; Particulate Emission Rate: 24.546 grams/sec; Heat Release Rate: 26.638 MW; Mixing Height; 2000 ft; Transport Wind: 12.5 mph; Direction: WSW; Stability Class: Slightly Unstable

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Acknowledgements

I thank Havananda Ombashi, Mette Løvschal and Zac Caple for comments on an earlier draft of this article and discussion of the ideas herein. I also thank Victoria Lyder Tissot and Kirstine Stæhr Gregersen for their work on data collection. Comments from two anonymous reviewers were very helpful in clarifying the argument.

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The project has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement 853356).

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    Mark Haughton

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Haughton, M. Connecting Posthumanist Thinking with GIS Practice: Explorations of a Prehistoric Heathland Landscape in Jutland, Denmark. J Archaeol Method Theory 31, 227–250 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-023-09603-y

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