Péter Ódor (Academia.edu)
The thesis is a complex spatial analysis that attempts to partially reconstruct the road network of Tolna County in the late Middle Ages using a widely used modeling tool, the lowest cost path (LCP) calculation. The reference points for the modeling are the thoroughly researched medieval settlement history of the area under study, landscape archaeological observations from recent decades, and medieval roads identified based on historical sources. In the preparatory phase, the most important factors were the well-founded modeling of the main road cost factors, the selection of cost functions used for the calculation, the characteristics of the geographical environment, and the setting of the road search. The LCP roads authentically represented the identifiable road network elements between neighboring medieval settlements. Based on the modeled roads, an overview reconstruction was realized, but there are several opportunities for further development of the method and deepening of the analysis.
The thesis’ appendix can be accessed here.