M.C. KOSIAN | H.J.T. WEERTS
(Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, The Netherlands)

Keywords: landscape mapping, GIS, heritage policies, predictive modelling, new multi-scale map

Abstract:
In the past two years the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands has developed a nationwide landscape GIS. For this new conceptual approach we put together several multi-scale landscape classifications into one GIS. At the local scale a nationwide geomorphological GIS is available in the Netherlands. This map is based on geomorphometrical, geomorphological, lithological and geochronological criteria. When used at a national scale this map is too complex for use in e.g. planning practice or predictive archaeology.
We have combined the local scale with the national scale and even the wider European scale. To do so, we first defined national physical geographical regions based on the national geological map. We also made sure there was a reference with the European LANMAP2 classification. Furthermore, we used a GIS that contained the position of dikes and a GIS with geological faults.
We came up with 26 landscape units at the national scale, based on genesis, large-scale geomorphology, lithology of the shallow sub-surface and age. All together, they define the natural boundary conditions for anthropogenic use. This enables the link with the European LANMAP2 GIS. At the local scale, the boundaries of the national units can be defined and precisely mapped by linking them to the geomorphological map polygons. Each national unit consists of a typical assemblage of local geomorphological units.
With this new map local counsels as well as provincial, or even national governments can address zones of human activities through time and space and therefor manage their heritage policies, or the assignments specifications towards archaeological companies. Likewise archaeologists can use this new map for a better, more detailed predictive modelling.
In this paper I will address both the realization of this map as well as it’s uses in archaeology and spatial planning(policies).