Anthropology, space, and geographic information systems
By: [edited by] Mark Aldenderfer, Herbert D.G. Maschner.
Contributors: Aldenderfer, Mark S.; Maschner, Herbert D. G.
Series: Spatial information systems
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 294
Subjects: Anthropology -- Data processing -- Congresses.; Cartography -- Data processing -- Congresses.; Geographic information systems -- Congresses.; Spatial analysis (Statistics) -- Congresses.
Description: Major advances in the use of geographic information systems have been made in both anthropology and archaeology. Yet there are few published discussions of these new applications and their use in solving complex problems. This book explores these techniques, showing how they have been successfully deployed to pursue research previously considered too difficult - or impossible - to undertake.

Among the projects described here are studies of land degradation in the Peruvian Amazon, settlement patterns in the Pacific northwest, ethnic distribution within the Los Angeles garment industry, and prehistoric sociopolitical development among the Anasazi. Following an introduction that discusses the theory of geographic information systems in relation to anthropological inquiry, the book is divided into sections demonstrating actual applications in cultural anthropology, archaeology, opaleoanthropology, and physical anthropology.

The work will be of much interest within all these communities.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [251]-289) and index.
Papers from a conference held in Santa Barbara, January, 1992.