More than Line of Sight and Least Cost Path. An Application of GIS to the Study of the Circular Tombs of South-Central Crete

This paper falls within the scope of GIS-based studies of past landscapes. Visibility and movement analyses are implemented in order to explore two specific questions and, in this way, shed light on some of the criteria that influenced the location of circular tombs in the Prepalatial landscape of south-central Crete (3100/3000-1900 BC). First, viewshed analyses are performed to test the hypothesis that circular tombs were located so as to offer a commanding view over their surroundings. To do so, a comparison is made between the extent of the area visible from the tombs and nearby random points. In a second phase, the recently developed focal mobility network procedure is used to address the issue of spatial connectivity in south-central Crete and assess whether circular tombs were preferably built along natural corridors of movement.