Study of Hydro-Geomorphological Factors Role in the Ancient Hills Patterns in Maragheh County Using MACBETH and SWARA Models

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Geomorphology - Faculty of Planning and Environment Science - University of Tabriz

2 Tabriz

3 Professor of Geomorphology, Department of Geomorphology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The settlement of human societies on the Earth's surface has consistently aimed to maximize access to natural resources, such as water resources, suitable vegetation cover, and arable land. Undoubtedly, this endeavor is based on principles now understood as the science of spatial planning. The primary objective of this research is to examine the role of environmental factors in the settlement patterns of archaeological mounds in Maragheh County using the MACBETH and SWARA models. To achieve this goal, variables including topography (slope, slope direction, elevation classes), hydrology (distance from rivers, aqueducts, and springs), lithology, soil, and land use were analyzed.

According to the results, elevation classes, distance from rivers, and slope have the most significant influence on the distribution patterns of the archaeological mounds, while the distance from aqueducts plays the least role. Validation results showed that in the SWARA model, 51, 19, and 7 of Maragheh’s archaeological mounds fall into highly suitable, suitable, and other zones, respectively. In contrast, the MACBETH model places 35, 20, and 22 of these mounds in highly suitable, suitable, and other zones.

Thus, it can be concluded that the SWARA model demonstrates superior performance compared to the MACBETH model for this region.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 08 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 March 2025

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