[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c19.s1.22 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s1.22 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s1.22 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s1.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.22) \*14. 1.2 Post-Stone age.\* A. Significance of settlement studies: The study of settlements, particularly those of the post-Stone Age settled communities, has two aspects. First, one may study the location of each individual settlement in relation to such factors as soil, water resources, climate, routes, etc. This type of study is useful in the following ways. (i) When the detailed locational data are available on the settlements of a particular culture it is possible to formulate hypotheses regarding the natural-environmental and other factors behind the distribution of that culture. (ii) On the basis of these data it is also possible to have an insight into the nature of land-use during this particular cultural period in the respective distribution area. (iii) Hypotheses may also be framed on the functions of individual settlements and the nature of the network of their relationship on the basis of their size and mutual distance. For these three types of study one may either take up an individual culture and study it in space or concentrate on an area and investigate issues involved in time through a locational study to settlements of various phases which may be found in that area. Secondly, emphasis may be given on the relationship between the individual structural units of an excavated settlement. The idea behind this approach is that the relationship between the individual components of a settlement is likely to provide an understanding of its social, economic and perhaps even ideological affiliation. - [Previous: v1.c19.s1.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.21) - [Next: v1.c19.s1.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.23) - [Up: v1.c19.s1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c19.s1.22) · Pramāṇa