Abstract

In 1990, Lakehead University began a pilot project studying the feasibility of developing predictive models of prehistoric settlement locations. More than 250,000 square kilometres of forest is leased for logging activities and virtually none of that land has been subjected to archaeological analysis. The project will organize its land base according to the Borden system to facilitate correspondence with archaeological management units. This has resulted in individual map sheets of 18.5km x 12km in size (608 rows x 397 columns per digital map). Each cell in the digital database represents 30m x 30m. This cell resolution allows for detailed mapping of the natural resource and archaeological database. In addition, LANDSAT TM data can be incorporated directly into this database. At the present time, two Borden blocks have been digitized: DhJf and DhJe. A variety of data layers have been generated including elevation, water resources, surface geology, drainage, transportation and utility corridors, and known archaeological sites. A preliminary predictive model has been generated but has not yet been subjected to field verification.