Bridging space and theory: trends in Czech spatial archaeology in the 21st century
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: REPORTS |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105524 |
| Keywords | Settlement patterns; Landscape archaeology; Spatial archaeology; Review; Quantitative methods; Czech Republic; Archaeology |
| Attached files | |
| Description | This paper provides a systematic review of Czech spatial archaeology, focusing on its theoretical and methodological development since 2000. We address three main research questions: (1) Are certain regions or prehistoric periods over- or underrepresented in settlement pattern studies? (2) To what extent do Czech archaeologists use spatial approaches for interpreting past societies rather than merely describing archaeological evidence? (3) How has settlement pattern research in the Czech Republic evolved methodologically and theoretically? To answer these questions, we compiled a database of 67 relevant studies published mostly in the last 20 years, enabling quantitative analyses of spatial and temporal coverage, methodological trends, and theoretical influences. The dataset includes publications focusing on the territory of the Czech Republic from the Mesolithic to the Early Medieval period, comprising case studies examining spatial relations between archaeological sites and/or their relations with the surrounding environment. Using statistical analyses, GIS-based approaches, and network analysis, we identify key theoretical and methodological developments and persisting trends in the field. We examine how Czech spatial archaeologists conceptualize their research and how they are incorporated within the European and global archaeological trends. Our findings revealed not only regional differences in Czech spatial archaeology, but also differences in research traditions. Furthermore, certain periods and regions attracted more attention from archaeologists than others. We also managed to track the influence of Evžen Neustupný’s work from the 1980 s to the present day. |