Multiplicity and Path Dependency in the Modeling of Historical Routes: A Case Study of the Wonju Basin in the Central Region of the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

This article introduces how an interdisciplinary approach to modeling historical routes enriches route formation discourses. It combines the current least cost path-based modeling with a novel method developed by the authors, which employs hillslope position-based movement suitability as the primary cost factor to supplement slope gradient. Multiple routes can be modeled by using differently weighted combinations of the two cost factors, but for this study, three different routes were modeled for the case region, the Wonju Basin of the central Korean Peninsula, using archaeological site data roughly categorized into six time periods. By modeling the three different routes for each period, six time slices of movement were produced, and overlapping route sections were identified by superimposing the time slices. The results highlighted the multiplicity of routes, often overlooked when only the most optimal single route is modeled. Diachronic modeling also illustrated how route formation over time was influenced by self-enforcing processes, thereby illuminating path dependency. Guided by complex systems theory, this article provides insights into how the emergence of routes can be approached as both a physical and human spatial phenomenon.

本文介绍一种跨学科的历史路线建模方法, 结合最小成本路径模型和作者的新方法, 丰富了对路线形成的叙述。作为对坡度的补充, 本文将坡度活动适宜性作为主要成本因素。通过对两种成本因素的不同加权组合, 模拟了多条路线。利用六个时间段的考古遗址数据, 模拟了朝鲜半岛中部元州盆地的三条不同路线。对每个时期的三条不同路线进行建模, 产生了活动的六个时间片段。对这些时间片段的叠加, 能识别重叠路段。研究结果突出了被最优单一路线模型忽略的路线多样性。Diachronic模型还说明了路线如何随着时间而受到自我强化过程的影响, 阐明了路径依赖性。基于复杂系统理论, 本文深入探讨了如何将路线视为自然的和人文的空间现象。

Este artículo discute el modo como un enfoque interdisciplinario de la modelización de rutas históricas enriquece los discursos sobre la formación de rutas. El artículo combina la modelización actual que se basa en la ruta del menor coste con un nuevo método desarrollado por los autores, que emplea la idoneidad del movimiento basada en la posición de la ladera como factor de coste principal, para suplementar el gradiente de inclinación. Se pueden modelar múltiples rutas usando combinaciones ponderadas de manera diferente de los dos factores de costo, aunque para este estudio se modelizaron tres rutas diferentes en cada región, la Cuenca del Wonju de la parte central de la Península de Corea, usando datos arqueológicos del sitio, a grandes rasgos categorizado en seis períodos de temporalidad. Al modelizar las tres rutas diferentes para cada período, se generaron seis cortes temporales de movimiento, y se identificaron secciones superpuestas de rutas mediante la superposición de los cortes temporales. Los resultados destacaron la multiplicidad de rutas, cosa que a menudo se pasa por alto cuando solo se modeliza la ruta óptima. La modelización diacrónica también ilustra el modo como la formación de rutas a lo largo del tiempo fue influida por procesos autofortalecedores, iluminando así la dependencia de rutas. Guiado por la teoría de los sistemas complejos, este artículo aporta ideas sobre cómo abordar el surgimiento de rutas como fenómeno espacial tanto físico como humano.

Key Words:

• complex systems theory
• historical route modeling
• least cost path
• multiplicity
• path dependency

关键词:

• 复杂系统理论
• 历史路线建模
• 最小成本路径
• 多样性
• 路径依赖性

Palabras clave:

• dependencia de las trayectorias
• modelización histórica de rutas
• multiplicidad
• teoría de los sistemas complejos
• trayectoria del coste mínimo

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Hillslope positions are generic landscape units designated according to the topographical, pedological, and hydrological features of the landscape (Conacher and Dalrymple 1977). The hillslope positions defined respectively, for mountainous landscapes and nonmountainous landscapes for the purpose of the HPMS index are presented in the first row of Table 1.

2 In the earlier “land suitability index” (Huh et al. 2010), the landscape was classified into six hillslope positions and land-use suitability was evaluated for each position based on eight criteria. The attribution of the land suitability index values took place though the collective decision-making process of specialists participating in this study. It must be stressed that both the land suitability and movement suitability values are not absolute values, but rather relative values used to convey the ranked sequence of the suitability factors.

3 For example, in the original land suitability index, “toeslope” featured the highest value in nonmountainous areas. Adjustments were made, however, so that the value for “footslope” was greater than that of “toeslope” in the hillslope position-based movement suitability. This is because historical and ethnographic sources indicated that the boundary between alluvial plains and hillsides (i.e., footslope) was preferred over riverine and coastal alluvial plains (i.e., toeslope) for movement due to the inevitable increase in travelled distance, and the danger of roads being washed away during floods (Shim, Ko, and Park 2022).

4 Paleolithic/Neolithic (c. 200,000 BCE–1500 BCE), Bronze Age (c. 1500–300 BCE), Iron Age/Proto-Three Kingdoms (c. 300 BCE–300 CE), Three Kingdoms/North-South States (c. 300–926 CE), Goryeo (926–1392 CE), Joseon (1392–1910 CE).

Additional information

Funding

This research was partly funded by the Korea Land and Geospatial InformatiX Corporation (LX) 2018–9 R&D Project Re-Examining the Silk Road: Re-Discovering North Jeolla Province as a Channel of Civilization Exchange. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2020S1A6A3A02065553].

Notes on contributors

Ilhong Ko

ILHONG KO is a Research Professor at Seoul National University Asia Center, Seoul 08826, South Korea. E-mail: [email protected]. Her research interests include migration and exchange in the Korean Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, the modeling of ancient routes, and North Korean archaeology.

Woojin Shim

WOOJIN SHIM is a Research Professor at Seoul National University Asia Center, Seoul 08826, South Korea. E-mail: [email protected]. His research primarily centers around landscape analysis using spatial modeling, the spatial distribution of environmental factors (physical and chemical properties of soil), hillslope units, and environmental issues, including climate change.

Hyunjoo Jung

HYUNJOO JUNG [corresponding author] is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Planning at Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea. E-mail: [email protected]. Her research interests are focused on spatial theories, gendered approaches to urban spaces, and migration in Asian contexts.