T. Podobnikar, J. Dular, S. Tecco Hvala
The Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia

We would like to present an attempt of reconstruction the path network between Iron Age hillforts, using GIS. It is a part of the research project of late prehistoric settlement patterns in the central-south region of Slovenia, which has included surveys and digging trenches. Data collected with these surveys and researches, completed with records of the national database of archaeological sites (ARKAS), and the high quality digital elevation model (DEM) provide the basis for our analyses. In the absence of direct evidence of prehistoric track or pathway, we examined the relationship between the natural pathway and known late prehistoric locations within the context of today's landscape. To obtain the optimal pathways we used classical GIS-domain algorithms based on least-cost distance grid analyses, involving isotropic and anisotropic friction and applying different weights based on cognitive perception and common knowledge of landscape. It can be seen that path in hilly terrain generally follow ridges, but in flat plains are shown many potential routes. Alternative pathways have been statistically and visually evaluated and related with known late prehistoric remains and evidences.
Key words: Natural Pathways, Prehistoric routes, GIS, DEM, Cost Distance