S. De Ruiter Mphil

Biography

Samantha de Ruiter is specialized in landscape archaeology in the Caribbean and in using GIS and other computer applications in archaeology.

Research Interest

The main aim for this research to analyse settlement patterning in the Lesser Antilles in which characteristics, continuity, and changes in site locations are investigated in the cultural and social context of the islands. The impact of early colonization on settlement patterning on these ecologically and culturally diverse islands is the focal point of analyses, placing the ‘Island Carib strongholds’ at the centre of this study. Equally important aims are the construction of a geo-referenced database and of a predictive model using geographical information systems (GIS).The main research question “ What does site patterning reveal about the social landscape dynamics across the historical divide?” will be answered by addressing the sub-questions on the archaeological, cultural, physical, spatial and temporal setting of the sites. The characterization of Amerindian settlement patterns will constitute the base for this study, and enables analyses of how these patterns relate to the various ceramic cultures on the islands. The diachronic approach allows for the analysis of changes in settlement patterning through time.