Profile Maps

Theses profile maps show the elevation that would have to be scaled by the ancient people to reach the hilltop cites over a distance in Km.

Descripton of Map 2

This map shows the location of the Ancient forts that were used to defend the ancient pathways from the foothills to the hilltops. It shows the contour lines which represent the elevation of Israel. The incline from the fort’s location to the the hilltops was around 600-700 ft.

Description Of Map 1

This is the first presentable map that I have created. It shows the location of the Ancient forts that were used to defend the ancient pathways from the foothills to the hilltops. It also shows the topographic representation of Israel as well as the Fort’s location compared to the modern Israelite roadways. I am still waiting on a use able DEM(Digital Elevation Model) to portray the elevation better.

Wadi Defenders

GIS Project Proposal

Alex Pizzano

For Dr. Meierdiercks

GIS Project Proposal

Prediction of fort locations along the ancient pathways in Palestine using a GIS model

Introduction

Tel Lachish, Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tel Zayit, and Tel Bet Shemesh are four ancient Israelite cities that were all active in the 10^th century BCE. These ancient cities were situated along a wadi or valley. These valleys would be flood runoff areas during the spring melts but during the dry months they would be used as pathways between main cities.   The location of the these four cities  were not in an ideal place to have a thriving city, and the layout of the structures in the city i.e. big storage spaces and large space for cattle, would not have been sufficient to house large numbers of people. Therefore the main opinion among scholars is that these cities were fortifications used to guard the valleys as people traveled below. Unfortunately, it is extremely dangerous and impractical for someone in the United States to go travel these ancient pathways to see if the elevations and spatial differences in the forts were practical to guard the pathway.  An alternate approach is to us GIS to map out the locations of these cities and determine the elevation of each to the floor of the valley and conclude whether or not they were actually there as forts. If that is case, and the cities were strategically placed then it would be a plausible argument that there was some type of organized government in that region.

Objectives

This project will evaluate whether a GIS model can prove that the location of ancient cities were strategically placed to protect and provide easy access the ancient pathways along a valley or Wadi. The specific objectives include:

• Mapping out the location of the ancient cities in correlation to the ancient walkable paths.
• Are these cites placed at easy access points to the valley.
• Record the level of incline of the valley at each city.
• Compare the average incline of these ancient cities to a trail or road in New York State that people will be familiar with.
• Determine if these inclinations could be easily traveled by foot.
• Determine which city each ascent leads to.
• Compare these ascents to modern day Israelite roads.
• Determine if there were other points of access to the valley besides the four cities that were mapped.

Methodology

The GIS analysis will be used to identify the spatial correlations between these four cites and their corresponding valley. The GIS analysis will also show the elevations that would have had to been traveled by the ancient people.  The final project will show the exact locations of each city along each valley and the elevation of the valleys in correlation to the city.

Data Sources

The data source was provided by the client; Professor of Religious Studies, Michael B. Dick of Siena College.

Name of Ancient City	Wadi or Canyon	Lat & long	Map Reference on Palestinian Grid
Tel Lachish	Nahal Lachish (Wadi Ghafr in Arabic)	31° 33’ 55.85” N 34° 50’ 59.35” E	M.R. 135108
Khirbet Qeiyafa	Valley of Elah (see Film of same name)	31° 41’ 46.52” N 34° 57’ 27.13” E
Tel Zayit	Nahal (Beth) Guvrin	31° 37’ 45.27” N 34° 49’ 48.96” E
Tel Bet Shemesh	Sorek Valley	31° 45’ 10.53” N 34° 58’ 30.05” E	M.R. 147128

Work Plan

March 2010-April 2010-  Compile data from data source.

Calculate elevation and map out cities

Create final layers of elevation

Analyze results and write final report

Budget

To be announced.

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