The map in archaeological studies - an illustration or an argument?

Abstract

The major question discussed in this article is whether the map on which archaeological data are marked can be considered as an argument in proving theses in the field of social history. The author refers to the work of the medievalist Karol Modzelewski, Metody kartograficzne wobec spornych problemów historii społecznej wcześniejszego średniowiecza [Applying Cartographic Methods to Controversial Problems of the Social History of the Early Middle  Ages]. The article analyzes differences between the humanistic (i.e. subjective in the selection of facts) content of maps created by archaeologists/historians and independent cartographic data. It is concluded that the arguments of the humanities do not become axioms when they are marked on a map. Another topic of refl ection is the problem of the associative interaction of the map. The author suggests that maps should primarily be used to generate new questions. In regard to this it is important that the imagination of researchers is not limited by available computer programs used to create maps.