Tilt - Slope-Dependent Least Cost Path Calculations Revisited [CAA 2008]

Least-cost path (LCP) calculations have become a standard procedure in archaeology and this is why many publications simply mention the name of the GIS software package used in the analysis they perform but do not give details of the parameters selected. Most LCP calculations rely heavily on slope values derived from a DEM of modern landscape. However, the LCPs generated this way will vary depending on many factors including DEM resolution and accuracy, slope calculation method, slope-dependent cost function, method for dealing with anisotropy, and the number of neighbours considered in the grid. This paper gives an overview of problems encountered in slope-dependent LCP calculations using the Wetterau region in Germany as a study area.