Li, Zehao; Bevan, Andrew; (2024) A spatial interaction model of Qin-Han Dynasty organisation on the northern frontier and the location of the Zhidao highway (China). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 53 , Article 104407. 10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104407.

Preview

Text Li_A spatial interaction model of Qin-Han Dynasty organisation on the northern frontier and the location of the Zhidao highway_VoR.pdf - Published Version Download (12MB) | Preview

Abstract

Modelling pathways or traffic flows on the basis of only partially-preserved or recovered evidence is of considerable interest to archaeologists. This study uses spatial interaction modelling to investigate the well-known Zhidao (直道) highway that was a major military road to the northern frontier in the Qin-Han Dynasty. The model simulates hypothetical flows among a set of known forts on China's north-western frontier and then compares the results to more and less certain attestations of the route of the Zhidao highway from archaeological and documentary evidence. We are able to reveal: (a) that logistical connectivity was unsurprisingly a priority along the Qin-Han frontier and (b) that the contemporary combination of forts and major east–west defensive walls were integrated via the location of the Zhidao highway. The approach presented here is reproducible via accompanying code and data, and could be transferred to a range of other archaeological applications where military installations, linear defensive works and highways interact in potentially complex and interesting ways.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLCSVJSON

Archive Staff Only

View Item