Using Least Cost Path Analysis to Explore the Archaeological Path Connecting between Hatim Al-Taie Houses and his Stove

Abstract

Reviving ancient paths between archaeological sites in mountainous regions and improving accessibility to them is very important; it drives local economic development and achieves sustainable tourism. Hail Province possesses a unique geographical environment, with mountains, valleys, agricultural lands, villages, and urban areas. It is rich in archaeological sites, many of which are located in mountainous areas. The primary obstacle lies in the difficulty or impossibility of accessing these sites. The study aims to exploration the path linking two sites: Hatim Al-Tai's houses in Tuwairan il, and Hatim Al-Tai's fireplace in Jabal Al-Samra, and verify its validity. The study takes a spatial analysis approach to achieve its objectives. The path is produced using least cost path analysis in geographic information systems,.The study proposed two possible routes, with the gradient-based route being identified as the most optimal, as it exhibits the highest degree of concordance with the available archaeological evidence.

Keywords: Archaeological sites, Stove, Least Cost Path, Cost Surface, Geographic Information Systems.