Oetelaar, GeraldAmundsen-Meyer, Lindsay2014-06-252014-11-172014-06-252014Amundsen-Meyer, L. (2014). Nested Landscapes: Ecological and Spiritual Use of Plains Landscape During the Late Prehistoric Period (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27071http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1585This study evaluates competing models of settlement patterning on the Northwestern Plains using a sample of sites located along the Old North Trail, an ancient pathway within the traditional homeland of the Blackfoot people. More specifically, the sites are located in the Foothills of southern Alberta, the wintering grounds of the Blackfoot. Ecological models suggest that wood, water, bison and shelter are the key influences on human settlement patterns at this time of year. The location of bison herds changes yearly, and any instance of a resource can be used. Consequently, this model expects a random distribution of archaeological sites, though sites should be located where there is access to wood and water. Phenomenological models, by contrast, posit that human groups travel along established paths and stop at the same culturally important places each year. Given such patterned use of the landscape, clusters of archaeological sites at culturally significant landmarks, including glacial erratics, named places, springs and cottonwood groves, are expected. Since human groups return each year, these sites should show evidence of reuse. These suggestions are tested through a series of spatial statistics and descriptive spatial tools which identify spatial patterns and relate site clusters to landscape variables of ecological and cultural significance. This analysis shows that ecological variables influence the selection of the study area as an appropriate wintering ground but do not account for the placement of settlements within the Foothills region. Instead, cultural variables appear to exert a greater influence on human settlement choices, with views of and proximity to named places and glacial erratics important considerations and proximity to cottonwood groves and springs of secondary importance. Consequently, I propose a series of nested landscapes for this portion of the Northwestern Plains in which ecology conditions settlement choices at a large scale and phenomenology at small scale. These insights provide a greater understanding of human use of the Northwestern Plains landscape and contribute to a larger dialogue regarding cultural landscapes, senses of place and ultimately cultural identity.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.ArchaeologyGeographyNative American Studieslandscape archaeologyBlackfootGeographic Information Systemssettlement patternsNorthwestern PlainsSpatial Analysisdoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/27071