GIS methods and analysis of archaeological layers in the Toplica district (Serbia)

Abstract

In this paper, we are explaining a decade long investigation of historical, sacral and archaeological sites in the Toplica District (Serbia) as one of the significant cultural heritage sites in Europe with more than 226 objects with different time of origin. The survey was carried out for the purpose of better recognizing the archaeological potential. In science like archaeology, static objects, if not dynamized, remain unrecognizable to the general public, regardless of their historical and archaeological importance. Historical changes during the period of more than 7,000 years, with many sites of cultural heritage in this district, were recognized. Ordinary kriging was employed through Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS) and System for Automated Geoscientific Analysis (SAGA). The positions of historical objects are registered, from the Neolithic period to modern times. With the help of GIS and geo-statistical methods, archaeological and historical layers can be rediscovered and better recognized. GIS algorithm ordinary kriging was used to complete the cultural heritage potential and archaeological valorization of the objects with geo-spatial dispersion. As a final product, we have obtained maps with historical and archaeological locations. For the first time, we used a scientific name for contour lines (archlines) with an equal number of archaeological units per density. In the end, archaeological and historical objects and their features were shown with the support of geographical and GIS methods.