E. Farinetti1, K. Sbonias2
1 Dept. of Archaeology, Leiden University Netherlands
2 Dept. of History, Ionian University, Greece

The paper aims to broaden the discussion about the integrated use of archaeology and computer applications, bringing into focus the potential of historical data in the GIS based studies. We particularly explore possible ways of processing historical information (such as population and agricultural production data) bringing them into the GIS system as constitutive factors of analysis, in addition to the commonly used environmental data.
As a case study we examine historical sources (Ottoman Imperial Archives) available for the history of Boeotia (central Greece). The paper addresses methodological questions about ways of structuring and managing those historical sets of data. At the alphanumeric level the diverse data-sets are structured and gathered into a database. Accordingly, at the graphic level all the recorded information are given a spatial character and spatial features are attached to them. The medieval and post-medieval data on population and economic production of the province of Boeotia, which come from the Ottoman Imperial Archives, are linked with villages located in the landscape and sites recorded by the archaeological survey. An attempt is made to model the demographic and economic development of the region.
Key words: GIS, agricultural history, population, settlement analysis