@ARTICLE{10.21494/ISTE.OP.2020.0523, 

TITLE={Pre-Hispanic agrarian developments in a volcanic environment: Analysis of LiDAR data from the Malpaís de Zacapu, Mexico}, 
  
AUTHOR={Antoine Dorison, }, 
	
JOURNAL={Digital Archaeology}, 
	
VOLUME={4}, 

NUMBER={Issue 1}, 
	
YEAR={2020}, 

URL={https://www.openscience.fr/Pre-Hispanic-agrarian-developments-in-a-volcanic-environment-Analysis-of-LiDAR}, 
	
DOI={10.21494/ISTE.OP.2020.0523}, 
	
ISSN={2515-7574}, 
	
ABSTRACT={Recent LiDAR-based surveys in Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala) slowly reveal the underestimated magnitude of prehispanic landscape management. Known residential sites prove to be integrated within deeply modified landscapes, primarily to be cultivated, thus highlighting once more the importance of agriculture in these societies deprived of beasts of burden or cattle. Consistent with this research trend, this contribution presents the compelling case study of the Malpaís de Zacapu LiDAR (90 km²), in West Mexico, focusing on agrarian features. The study combines field work and digital imagery (LiDAR, satellite imagery) to address landscape modification in this volcanic environment characterized by chaotic lava flows displaying little or no soil cover. We used methods from archaeogeography and applied geopedology to update the archaeological and soil maps of the area. The numerous remains brought to light dramatically change our understanding of local settlement history. In the meantime, the study underlines agrarian features adapted to specific landforms and soil types. It finally points out that the selection of cultivated areas is also governed by cultural choices that have changed through time.}}