Using fuzzy logic to analyze the spatial distribution of pottery in unstratified archaeological sites: The case of the pobedim hillfort (Slovakia)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the spatial clustering of pottery finds based on their occurrence at different depths in the Pobedim hillfort archaeological site (Western Slovakia), without reference to stratigraphic data. Two fuzzy sets methods (fuzzy linear function and fuzzy gamma operator) were used to analyze the distribution of Slavic pottery from the 9th century AD at six sectors (I–VI) located at the acropolis of the Pobedim hillfort in terms of their occurrence at different depths, their quantity at different depths, and the number of excavation pits. Using the mentioned fuzzy set methods, significant clusters of pottery were found in two sectors of the Pobedim site (sectors I and II). The results were compared with those obtained in previous research at this site, where the method of spatial autocorrelation was used. It was found that the most significant squares identified with the use of fuzzy set theory coincide with 14 squares where auto-correlation also found significant concentrations of pottery. However, the most significant squares identified by fuzzy methods (in the range 0.7–1) in all sectors of the Pobedim hillfort were 16% less than those identified by the positive spatial autocorrelation. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.