A Spatial Database Approach to the Geographic Distribution of Cultural Artefacts: Foundations for GIS-Based Historical Analysis

Abstract

The work introduces a spatial database method in order to examine geographic distribution of cultural artefacts and to create a basis of history analysis with the help of GIS. An extensive relational database was designed into a unified database system, which included various interrelated tables including locations, categories, region and related metadata. The database was digested and turned into a geospatial framework using the combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which facilitated visualization and analysis of spatial patterns. These findings indicate that there are vast regional differences in distribution of artefacts with major concentrations in historically and culturally important areas. The uneven distribution of cultural heritage, both in historical development and data availability is emphasized by spatial density mapping and thematic visualization. The paper has shown that the combination of relational databases and GIS tools increases the ability to analyze massive cultural data sets to provide multidimensional analysis of the spatial and thematic associations. The suggested framework offers a scalable basis to the next generation research, even with the constraints linked to time data and the spatial accuracy. The results also add to the further development of historical cartography and research on geospatial heritage by highlighting the importance of structured data and spatial analysis in interpreting cultural landscapes.