Zoning Analysis of Iron Age Sites Using Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) Methods in the Middle Atrak River Basin, Northeast of Iran

Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin Iran have a particular distribution pattern due to environmental, social, and economic variables, among which geographical factors play an essential role creating dispersing settlements. Some of these more effective stable than others. The present study examines evaluates sites determine that significant Moreover, zoning map should be presented using four different types location, grouped terms those with perfectly suitable, relatively unsuitable location. To achieve this goal, seven natural factors, including distance from river, altitude, slope, slope direction, communication routes, soil type, land use, were selected as influential choosing location sites. In operating maps prepared digitally ArcGIS, then weight each index was determined AHP model. results show 46.7% (or 28 sites) located suitable environment geography, 24 (29.3%) (11.4%) place, one site (1.6%) completely environment. This last type region’s landscape indicates choice livelihoods, agriculture animal husbandry both seasonal permanent methods.