What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to improve corridor enrichment analysis in archaeology by correcting coastal jitter bias and evaluating a proposed great circle alignment.

April 19, 2026Open Access

Land-constrained Monte Carlo baselines for corridor enrichment analysis in archaeology: correcting coastal jitter bias and testing a proposed transcontinental great circle alignment

Key Points

This research aims to improve corridor enrichment analysis in archaeology by correcting coastal jitter bias and evaluating a proposed great circle alignment.
Developed land-constrained Monte Carlo correction techniques.
Measured monument enrichment reductions from 5× to 2.52×.
Verified citation references for accuracy against CrossRef metadata.
Achieved statistical reductions in monument enrichment using new methods.
Qualitative conclusions regarding monument-settlement divergence remain consistent post-correction.
No fabricated authors identified during citation audit.

Abstract

Preprint (v8) of "Land-constrained Monte Carlo baselines for corridor enrichment analysis in archaeology: correcting coastal jitter bias and testing a proposed transcontinental great circle alignment" by Elliot Allan, Deep Time Research Institute.This version (v8, April 2026) incorporates: method-first reframing for broader interdisciplinary audience; land-constrained Monte Carlo correction (reduces monument enrichment from 5× to 2.52×, Z = 11.83 → 6.74); Vancouver-style numbered references; all qualitative conclusions (monument-settlement divergence, deep-time enrichment, tectonic mechanism) survive correction. Citation audit: all references verified against CrossRef metadata, 0 fabricated authors.Changes from v7: Ghoneim et al. 28 author list corrected to match CrossRef metadata (11 verified authors). No statistical changes.Under review at PLOS ONE. Code and data: https://github.com/thegreatcircledata/great-circle-analysis

Land-constrained Monte Carlo baselines for corridor enrichment analysis in archaeology: correcting coastal jitter bias and testing a proposed transcontinental great circle alignment

Key Points

Abstract

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