ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I explore prehistoric settlement ecology, in particular the process and outcomes of prehistoric decision-making during a period of convergent risks. Using settlement data from highland Peru, I discuss how particular settlement arrangements can serve as a sensitive indicator for a range of environmental, political, and social risks. I argue that through the application of an ad hoc risk analysis, archaeologists can better understand the relative importance that certain environmental, economic, political, and social factors played in the formation of prehistoric settlement arrangements. A geospatial analytical approach offers a promising way of identifying and weighing the individual pressures that influenced settlement decisions in the past.
