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Cited by 0Archaeological Research and ProtectionArchaeology and Cultural HeritageHistorical and Cultural Archaeology Studies

Equine-mounted mobility over challenging mountainous terrain: implications for least cost path studies in archaeological GIS

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Sunseri, Jun U., Castillo, Mario Alberto, Lin, Erika·2026·Kiva
DOI 10.1080/00231940.2026.2646017
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Abstract

Least cost path studies in archaeological GIS continue to rely on cost-functions based on pedestrian mobility, overlooking archaeological and historic contexts in which animal-aided mobilities were important. Equine-mounted mobility was important for 18th-century Genizaro communities in the extreme northern limits of colonial New Mexico, who protected and built new alliances across the Spanish frontier. This history and heritage, as memorialized by direct descendants, prompted an actualistic study in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This study followed a professional team of wranglers with pack animals, capturing spatial data parameterized by movement fully-loaded through challenging terrain. Analysis of speed and movement illuminated biomechanical constraints and wrangler decisions over different trail surfaces and slopes. This study highlights the importance of actualistic studies and empirical data for least cost path studies in archaeological GIS and context-specific understanding of movement beyond pedestrian mobility, incorporating the diverse ways human-non-human relationships constituted lived experiences in traversing landscapes.

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Research works printed but not linked: 19

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Authors
Sunseri, J. U., Castillo, M. A., & Lin, E.
Affiliations
  • University of California
  • University of California System (US)
ORCID
Sunseri, Jun U.
Venue
Kiva
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2026-04-03
Volume
92
Issue
2
Pages
179-203
ISSN
  • 0023-1940 (ISSN-L)
  • 2051-6177
DOI
10.1080/00231940.2026.2646017
OpenAlex
W7154958539
Semantic Scholar
4e7aba10f848cc899394ab2a19f5a4873e135711
Cited by
0
References
16
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
KIVA (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
UC Berkeley
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Archaeological Research and Protection
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies
Keywords
least-cost path, Sierra Nevada Mountains, colonial New Mexico, Spanish frontier, Wrangler, movement speed, terrain slope, human-nonhuman relations, cost function

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