The seaways appear to have been a prevalent means of travel in the past as observed in the evidence of contact and trade between regions. The Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland was part of a maritime network traditionally termed the Atlantic Seaways that linked these islands and the Continent. Communication across the North Channel between Western Scotland and northern part of Ireland may have been demonstrably easier during the later prehistoric period than movement looking eastwards across the Central Highlands of Scotland. Thus, these areas possibly developed into a ‘North Channel’ region as opposed to the sea creating a cultural divide. This idea is explored through a series of comparisons between sites either side of the North Channel. Three specific areas are targeted for the overall research, Argyll, the coastline of Northern Ireland and Co. Donegal. Both the individual architectural features and site distributions in relation to their locations within the landscape are investigated through an integrated approach. Firstly, a fine scale examination of the morphology of settlement sites using a common classification scheme explores the degree of structural comparability between these areas. The second approach is at a broader scale that statistically tests the distribution of site types with regards to specific landscape variables, including elevation, slope and aspect to identify spatial patterns. The third approach statistically tests the location of sites with regards to visibility to determine whether or not the locations of sites have particular visibility features and the comparability between the three study areas. This technique uses the Viewshed tool available in GIS software. It is argued that broad comparisons exist between Scotland and Ireland in site classifications, their distributions and vistas, which illustrate the degree of communication occurring between the study areas. Sites dating to the 1st millennium BC in Argyll and Co. Donegal exemplify similar distributions with regards to vistas and to a lesser extent the environmental variables. A few general structural features are similar between sites in Northern Ireland and Co. Donegal during this period; however, interpretations on the former also indicate that possible influences are also coming from outside the study region. Around the turn of the millennium to the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, communication links between Co. Donegal and Argyll appear to dwindle and the number of sites in Northern Ireland begins to increase. Around mid 1st millennium AD, sites in Co. Donegal illustrate features and distributions comparable to both Argyll and Northern Ireland, suggesting communication links are re‐established during this period.

Hillforts in Scotland are smaller than their counterparts in southern Britain and extremely difficult to define as a site category. This is even more true in the western and northern parts of the country traditionally described as Atlantic Scotland, where the plethora of small enclosed sites forms a continuum in terms of size and morphology that cuts across the boundaries of current classifications. Using the recent definition of a hillfort by J.D. Hill as a site type that is not a farmstead, this thesis attempts to analyse enclosed sites in terms of their area enclosed, morphology/architecture and particularly their landscape position to try to identify groups of sites or individual monuments that are these ‘not-farmsteads’. Three case study areas have been chosen for GIS-based analysis. Skye and Kintyre are in Atlantic Scotland. The former is a region where brochs have always been central to interpretations of the Iron Age, but it has a considerable number of larger hilltop enclosures classed as forts, and small, less regular drystone enclosures classed as duns. The forts of Kintyre in Argyll have been more studied, but their social role, as well as their relationship with and distinctiveness from the duns of Kintyre are still unknown. The final case study area is the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, part of Galloway, in Prof. Piggott’s Solway-Clyde province. Generally included with southern Scotland and the Borders in syntheses of Scottish prehistory, it has many aspects to its later prehistoric archaeology that may be considered ‘Atlantic’ in nature, such as small prominent drystone enclosures, promontory forts and sites with complex, traditionally Atlantic architecture. However, there are also hilltop enclosures classed as forts that are much larger than in the other two case study areas. GIS based analyses have been used, and combined with statistical testing to try to identify patterns in the landscape positioning of certain classes or sizes of enclosed site. Sites have been analysed in terms of their distance from the sea, altitude, topographic prominence, visibility in the landscape, and proximity to/visibility of agricultural land. These results have been interpreted to try to refine present site categorisations, and to attempt to identify those sites that are different from merely farmsteads.

A Arqueologia investiga os diferentes processos de constituição, funcionamento e transformação ocorridos nos sistemas sócio-culturais de populações humanas, desde os períodos mais recuados até os dias atuais. A investigação arqueológica é feita por meio de procedimentos técnicos e metodológicos já consagrados, utilizando-se da prática interdisciplinar e do aproveitamento, cada vez mais crescente, de recursos tecnológicos de domínio científico. A introdução dos sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG) como uma ferramenta de análise no âmbito da arqueologia brasileira é algo recente. A literatura mostra que em outros países o uso de tecnologia é parte da rotina, envolvendo aspectos locais, regionais e de gerenciamento do patrimônio. Neste trabalho é proposto o uso do SIG como um instrumento de devolução do conhecimento arqueológico, de modo a funcionar como um fator de inclusão social. Para isso é feito um estudo sobre os conceitos envolvidos na tecnologia de SIG e uma análise da problemática na construção de SIGs preditivos em função da precariedade da cartografia nacional. A partir deste estudo é concebido um sistema SIG/Multimídia denominado SIG Arqueologia, onde os dados do Projeto de Salvamento Arqueológico da UHE Corumbá IV (PA-SALV-C/IV) são utilizados para comprovar a eficiência da proposta. / Archeology examines different proceedings of constitution, performance and changes occurred in policies of human populations, social and cultural, since old time till this day. Archaeological search is made through consecrated technical and methodological procedures, using interdisciplinary and profiting training, increased more and more in technological resources of scientific origin. The introduction of geographical information systems (GIS) as an utensil of analysis in the field of brazilian archaeology is recent. Literature shows that in other countries the use of this technology is part of routine, involving local aspects, regional and patrimony management. In this work is proposed the use of GIS as an instrument of devolution of archeological knowledge, so to operate as a factor of social inclusion. It is made a study for this about concepts involved in GIS technology and an analysis of problematic in predicted GIS in function of precariousness of national cartography. Following this study is conceived a GIS/Multimedia system named ‘SIG Arqueologia’, were data of archeological salvation project of the UHE CORUMBÁ IV (PA-SALV-C/IV) are utilized to show the efficiency of proposal.

A Arqueologia investiga os diferentes processos de constituição, funcionamento e transformação ocorridos nos sistemas sócio-culturais de populações humanas, desde os períodos mais recuados até os dias atuais. A investigação arqueológica é feita por meio de procedimentos técnicos e metodológicos já consagrados, utilizando-se da prática interdisciplinar e do aproveitamento, cada vez mais crescente, de recursos tecnológicos de domínio científico. A introdução dos sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG) como uma ferramenta de análise no âmbito da arqueologia brasileira é algo recente. A literatura mostra que em outros países o uso de tecnologia é parte da rotina, envolvendo aspectos locais, regionais e de gerenciamento do patrimônio. Neste trabalho é proposto o uso do SIG como um instrumento de devolução do conhecimento arqueológico, de modo a funcionar como um fator de inclusão social. Para isso é feito um estudo sobre os conceitos envolvidos na tecnologia de SIG e uma análise da problemática na construção de SIGs preditivos em função da precariedade da cartografia nacional. A partir deste estudo é concebido um sistema SIG/Multimídia denominado SIG Arqueologia, onde os dados do Projeto de Salvamento Arqueológico da UHE Corumbá IV (PA-SALV-C/IV) são utilizados para comprovar a eficiência da proposta. / Archeology examines different proceedings of constitution, performance and changes occurred in policies of human populations, social and cultural, since old time till this day. Archaeological search is made through consecrated technical and methodological procedures, using interdisciplinary and profiting training, increased more and more in technological resources of scientific origin. The introduction of geographical information systems (GIS) as an utensil of analysis in the field of brazilian archaeology is recent. Literature shows that in other countries the use of this technology is part of routine, involving local aspects, regional and patrimony management. In this work is proposed the use of GIS as an instrument of devolution of archeological knowledge, so to operate as a factor of social inclusion. It is made a study for this about concepts involved in GIS technology and an analysis of problematic in predicted GIS in function of precariousness of national cartography. Following this study is conceived a GIS/Multimedia system named ‘SIG Arqueologia’, were data of archeological salvation project of the UHE CORUMBÁ IV (PA-SALV-C/IV) are utilized to show the efficiency of proposal.