Mikulčice and Its Hinterland: An Archaeological Model for Medieval Settlement Patterns on the Middle Course of the Morava River (7th to Mid-13th Centuries)(61 East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450)

In Mikulčice and Its Hinterland, Marek Hladík presents an archaeological model of social and economic relations in Great Moravia, which is built on an analysis of the settlement structure near one of the most significant centres of Great Moravia, the Mikulčice-Valy agglomeration. The book offers the first systematic and conceptual view of Mikulčice’s relations with its economic hinterland. The author uses multidisciplinary research to interpret and understand the importance of the natural environment for the landscape settlement strategy, and to understand the relations between the fortified centre and its rural surroundings. Important methodological tools used by the author to answer the examined questions include non-destructive archaeological research, statistical modelling, and spatial analyses in the GIS environment.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments List of Illustrations 1 Introduction 2 Theoretical and Methodological Rationale, Research Aims  2.1 Theoretical Rationale of Research  2.2 Research Method  2.3 Object Aims of Research and Tested Hypotheses 3 Structure of Work and Research Methodology  3.1 Definition of Terms  3.2 Research Procedure  3.3 Functional Aims of Research 4 Settlement and Structure of Settlement—Definitions and Limitations  4.1 The Structure of Time—Time Limitation  4.2 Spatial Structure—Geographical Setting of the Studied Area  4.3 Functional Structure 5 Natural Environment (Eco-parameters)  5.1 Natural Environment and Evidence for Land Use  5.2 Hydrology  5.3 Geomorphology  5.4 Geology and Pedology  5.5 Vegetation  5.6 Climate 6 Settlement of the Basin on the Middle Course of the Morava River during the Early Middle Ages—General Model (Tested Hypotheses) and the First Preliminary Model  6.1 History of Research  6.2 State of Research and Source Basis  6.3 General Model (Tested Hypotheses)  6.4 The First Preliminary Model 7 The Settlement in the Southern Part of the Lower Morava Region during the Early Middle Ages (Testing of Models)  7.1 Phase I of Field Activities  7.2 Archaeological Data and the First External Testing of Prediction Models  7.3 Phase II of Field Activities  7.4 Research in the Northern Záhorie Region 8 The Southern Part of the Lower Morava Region during the Early Middle Ages—Syntheses, Interpretations and Models  8.1 Data Synthesis  8.2 Interpretation of Results  8.3 Research Results, Discussion, Settlement as a System and Narrative Model 9 Conclusion Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Marek Hladík, Ph.D. (2012), The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Archaeology, Brno, works as scientist at the Research Centre for Slavonic and Medieval Archaeology. His research focuses on mathematical modelling of socio-economic context in archaeology in the historical context of Great Moravia.