Analysis of Settlement Patterns of Chalcolithic Sites in Eslamabad-e Gharb Using GIS Models

The Chalcolithic period is one of the significant prehistoric phases in Iran, emerging as a continuation of Neolithic developments. The Central Zagros, particularly the Eslamabad-e Gharb Plain in western Kermanshah, contains numerous Chalcolithic settlements. Despite the cultural richness of this region during the Chalcolithic, no systematic study has been conducted to clarify the status of its settlements from this period. This research seeks to answer the following questions: What were the settlement patterns of the Eslamabad-e Gharb Plain during the Chalcolithic? How can the changes in settlement patterns across the Early, Middle, and Late Chalcolithic phases be analyzed? It appears that several factors, including water resources, elevation above the plain, and communication routes, influenced the formation of settlements in this region during the Chalcolithic. Surveys and studies conducted in this plain have identified 65 archaeological sites associated with the Chalcolithic period. Some of these sites contain evidence from all three phases: Early, Middle, and Late Chalcolithic. The spatial data collected in this study were analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies and processed in ArcGIS software. The analysis was based on the distance of each settlement from the nearest river or water source, its elevation relative to the Islamabad Plain, and other influential factors. All sites were incorporated into analytical maps, which were generated for each of the three Chalcolithic phases in the Islamabad Plain.