Settlement configuration and social structure：Applying spatial comparative analysis in Old-Kucapungane

Summary

This article aims to examine the differences of social structure revealed (1) by the interpretations of the archaeological record through spatial analysis and, (2) by the data obtained through ethnographic research, both for same ethnic group.

Applications of spatial technologies in archaeology began in the early 1980s. Although these GIS-based technologies brought about new research perspectives, their ‘effectiveness’ and ‘correctness’ needs more in-depth investigations. Using Old-Kucapungane as a case study, this research compares the social structure reconstructed through space syntax, and the social structure observed from ethnography.

Old-Kucapungane is an abandoned slate house settlement in Taiwan. The Kucapungane people lived in the settlement for the past 600-700 years. However, they were forced to move out 50 years ago due to government policies. Nonetheless, since they abandoned Old-Kucapungane relatively recently, a small amount of the current population still has memories of how living in the settlement was. This inevitably makes Old-Kucapungane a perfect example for a comparative study between archaeology and ethnography.

The results of this research will highlight how comparative studies benefit from both perspectives. It not only provides new insights for archaeological interpretations, but also demonstrates the potential of how the Old-Kucapungane landscape was transformed in the past century.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Archaeology of Cultural Fluidity in Taiwan

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 14466