Abstract

Geographical investigations of deserted n1edieval villages on the island of Falster, Denn1ark: a statistical approach Reinhard Zolitz Kiel. It included two or three archaeologists, one or I. GENERAL INTRODUCI10N two geographers and a linguist, with slight Historical settlement research has as its objective the fluctuations in the number of persons involved. description and explanation of the internal There were also close contacts with historians and structure, function and distribution patterns and natural scientists who were not members of the changes in the course of time of human settlements. gro\}p. Since 1969 this group has studied the rural It was recognised at an early stage that this goal could settlement processes which formed a transition be achieved only with interdisciplinary methods. from the Slavic period to the period of German Although the stimuli initially came from geography, colonisation. Two suitable areas in East Holstein in the German-speaking countries it was the field of were chosen for this. archaeology that soon began to offer opportunities From 1979 onwards the research group widened for cooperation. In the developing field of its scope from the small study areas in East Holstein, settlement archaeology it was understood from the in which the investigations had