Predictive Modeling and the Ecology of Hunter-Gatherers of the Boreal Forest of Manitoba

There are several reasons for archaeologists to develop and critically examine the use of archaeological predictive models (APM). APM has had an immense impact on the field of Cultural Resources Management (CRM), particularly in North America. APM is thought to be much more effective in predicting hunter-gatherer site locations, rather than the site locations of complex societies. It is hoped that by the development and critical assessment of APM that these concerns can be addressed and what is a potentially powerful archaeological tool can gain greater acceptance. In this volume, the author creates four models to predict site locations of boreal forest hunter-gatherers. Two of the models are created using cultural and environmental variables. The third model focuses on economic variables in creating a predictive model using logistic regression, and the fourth is a model that combines economic, cultural and environmental variables to make predictions. Finally, this research tests the effectiveness of general ecological models of cultural behaviour as well as the relative merits of environmental/cultural and economic models. Furthermore, the research will test basic principles of cultural ecology at a time when many anthropologists are in the process of revising and updating this paradigm.