Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
E
STABLISHING
M
EGALITH
T
RANSPORT
R
OUTES
U
SING
G
EOGRAPHICAL
I
NFORMATION
S
YSTEM
Graham Brodie
1
and Leslie C. Hazell
2
*
1
Melbourne School of Land and Environment, Melbourne University,
Dookie, Victoria, Australia
2
FILAS, La Trobe University, Melbourne Victoria, Australia
Limited evidence has led to considerable debate about land routes
and methods to move megaliths chosen for sculpture by prehistoric
societies. The current research is investigating the question using
Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine likely land pathways
to transport megaliths over 100 kilometres in Mesoamerica by Preclassic
Olmec society. Access was restricted and the terrain included floodplains,
seasonal rivers and extensive swamps. Analyses were derived from
digitised survey maps using slope gradient tools initially from
ARCVIEW 3.2 and finally ARC10. Although compatibility issues arose
with this combination as we describe, tools of both versions provided a
starting point between stones' source from which to then define a
pathway across the challenging terrain.
