Upland archaeological site modeling and the use of GIS to explore new aspects of land use in the Central Aleutian Islands, Alaska

This thesis presents the methods and results of an archaeological site location model for precontact upland archaeological sites in the southwestern portion of Adak Island in the Central Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Archaeological data from field survey and literature review were assembled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to build the model. Model variables were statistically evaluated to ensure that they were appropriate predictors of site location and not the result of spurious correlations with the non-archaeological environment, as well as to establish value ranges within the relevant variables. Three approaches to modeling the data were examined within the survey area where the site data were collected. The most effective method was determined by calculating gain statistics, and was expanded and evaluated in the broader study area, creating an archaeological probability map for southwest Adak Island. Although possibly the result of coastal biases in the survey data and variables, the model strongly indicates a correlation between coastal areas and upland sites.