ABSTRACT
Prediction is a conventional procedure used in countless situations. It is used particularly in cases where the main endeavor is oriented toward the observation of a possible continuation (yet unknown) of manners, actions, or some behavior, or where prediction (or, more likely, interpolation) is used as a tool to supplement missing data. Predictions are made in weather forecasting, and a similar principle can also be found in risk analysis, animal behavioral studies in biology, material behavior in chemistry, etc. The predictive techniques and technological environments in which predictions are made differ from field to field. Technological environments can range from a specific computer-based environment such as a geographic information system (GIS) to complex expert systems joining several specific environments especially tailored for artificial knowledge-based applications. Within a GIS environment, the concept of prediction is more restricted than the generally understood meaning of the comprehensive term “prediction.” A GIS-based prediction yields spatially focused predictive information about specific locations that are likely to be of archaeological significance. The combination of GIS with the principles of advanced modeling techniques has been successfully used to tease out archaeological implications in the landscape (Lock and Stančič 1995; Exon et al. 2000; Gillings et al. 1999).
