Fuzzy Spatial Analysis of the Hellenistic House in the Izmir Mount Nif Ballıcaoluk Settlement

Ballıcaoluk archaeological site, located in the eastern region of Mount Nif, was excavated as part of the Mount Nif Excavation Project. The remains of an ancient settlement unearthed about 3.5 ha. land on the hilltop. Within the excavations in the AC 24-25 and AD 24-25 plan squares, a residential area dated to the Hellenistic period according to the finds and architectural remains was excavated. The subject of this paper is confined to two adjacent trenches, AC24c-AD24d. The finds were grouped into four clusters using a c-fuzzy clustering method, which has shown effective outcomes in previous archaeological studies. The relationships between the groups and the areas identified by archaeological expertise within the structure were determined using spatial spread, elevation, and type of the finds. This method aims to offer insights into the functions of different regions within the archaeological site by effectively integrating the archaeological context with quantitative analysis through sophisticated clustering techniques. The application of fuzzy methodologies is considered suitable for addressing both the spatial and qualitative ambiguity inherent in archaeological material. According to the results of fuzzy clustering, four contextually meaningful clusters were created. This paper seeks to promote wider acceptance and comprehension of fuzzy methods in archaeology, given their efficacy in managing the spatial and qualitative uncertainties frequently associated with archaeological data.