The linkage of geological parameters to cultural diversity at Karangsambung-Karangbolong Geopark and surrounding area, Kebumen, Indonesia

Geopark has three main components: geological, biological, and cultural diversity. Cultural and biological diversity in geoparks does not stand alone but must be related to geological diversity. This study aims to determine the relationship between seven geological criteria (lithology, mining materials, elevation, slope, landscape, river distance, and groundwater/geohydrology) on the formation of culture in the Megalithic, Hindu-Buddhist, Islamic, and Colonial eras in the Karangsambung-Karangbolong Geopark and surrounding area. The analytical method used is a scoring and weighting process using Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP). Based on AHP analysis, many relationships exist between culture formation and geological conditions. In the early stages of cultural formation during the Megalithic and Hindu-Buddhist eras, the influence of geological criteria was more dominant than that in the Islamic and Colonial eras. In the Megalithic era, groundwater had an effect of 32.38, with the main sub-criteria being wide productive aquifers, while river distance had an impact of 28.31, especially at river distances less than 50 m. The very well-suited area correlated with the geological condition and had the highest percentage (29.03). In the Hindu-Buddhist era, groundwater conditions influenced 36.05, mainly due to the wide productive aquifer as a sub-criterion, while the distance of the river had an effect of 25.78, especially when the river's length was less than 50 m. The percentage of the very well-suited area was 27.47. The elevation criteria had a 34.68 influence in the Islamic era, especially at elevations <5 m. Mining material criteria influenced 24.34. The level of very well-suited areas was 14.45. The geomorphology had the most significant influence (37.17) in the Colonial era, especially in the fluvial and marine landscapes. Mining materials had the second influence (24.18). The very good suitability area accounted for 25.54. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.