Computational Approaches to the Study of Movement in Archaeology

Movement is a fundamental aspect of human behavior, and it has been a topic of interest to archaeologists for decades. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using computational approaches to study movement in archaeology. This is due to the increasing availability of digital data, the development of new computational methods, and the growing sophistication of archaeological theory.

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology can be used to address a wide range of research questions. For example, archaeologists can use these approaches to:

• Identify and track the movement of people and animals
• Analyze the spatial distribution of artifacts and features
• Model the spread of ideas and technologies
• Understand the relationship between movement and social organization

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way that archaeologists understand the past.

Computational Approaches to the Study of Movement in Archaeology: Theory, Practice and Interpretation of Factors and Effects of Long Term Landscape Formation ... – Berliner Studien der Alten Welt Book 23)

by Robert H. Armstrong

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4147 KB
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Movement is a fundamental aspect of human behavior, and it has been a topic of interest to archaeologists for decades. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using computational approaches to study movement in archaeology. This is due to the increasing availability of digital data, the development of new computational methods, and the growing sophistication of archaeological theory.

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology can be used to address a wide range of research questions. For example, archaeologists can use these approaches to:

• Identify and track the movement of people and animals
• Analyze the spatial distribution of artifacts and features
• Model the spread of ideas and technologies
• Understand the relationship between movement and social organization

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way that archaeologists understand the past.

A variety of computational methods can be used to study movement in archaeology. These methods include:

• Geographic information systems (GIS): GIS is a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing spatial data. Archaeologists can use GIS to create maps of archaeological sites, artifacts, and features. They can also use GIS to analyze the spatial distribution of these data and to identify patterns of movement.
• Agent-based modeling (ABM): ABM is a type of computer simulation that can be used to model the behavior of individual agents in a complex system. Archaeologists can use ABM to model the movement of people and animals in past societies. They can use these models to explore the effects of different factors on movement, such as environmental conditions, social interactions, and technological innovations.
• Social network analysis (SNA): SNA is a set of techniques for analyzing the structure and dynamics of social networks. Archaeologists can use SNA to identify the social networks that existed in past societies and to analyze the flow of information and resources through these networks.

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology have been used to address a wide range of research questions. Some of the most common applications of these approaches include:

• Identifying and tracking the movement of people and animals: Computational approaches can be used to identify and track the movement of people and animals in past societies. For example, archaeologists have used GIS to track the movement of hunter-gatherer groups in North America and Europe. They have also used ABM to model the movement of animals in the African savanna.
• Analyzing the spatial distribution of artifacts and features: Computational approaches can be used to analyze the spatial distribution of artifacts and features in archaeological sites. For example, archaeologists have used GIS to identify the distribution of artifacts in a Roman villa in Italy. They have also used ABM to model the spread of artifacts in a prehistoric village in the American Southwest.
• Modeling the spread of ideas and technologies: Computational approaches can be used to model the spread of ideas and technologies in past societies. For example, archaeologists have used ABM to model the spread of agriculture in the Near East. They have also used SNA to model the spread of ideas in the Roman Empire.
• Understanding the relationship between movement and social organization: Computational approaches can be used to understand the relationship between movement and social organization in past societies. For example, archaeologists have used SNA to identify the social networks that existed in a prehistoric village in the American Southwest. They have also used ABM to model the effects of different social networks on the movement of people and animals.

Computational approaches to the study of movement in archaeology are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way that archaeologists understand the past. These approaches can be used to address a wide range of research questions, and they can provide new insights into the movement of people, animals, ideas, and technologies in past societies.

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• Barceló, J. A. (2012). Computational approaches to social evolution in archaeology. Springer Science & Business Media.
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• Crema, E. R. (2014). Integrating archaeological and computational methods for the study of human movement in the past. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 21(1),1-24.
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• Lake, M., & Woodman, P. (Eds.). (2010). Movement, interaction, and agency in archaeological landscapes. Left Coast Press.
• Lipo, C. P., & O'Brien, M. J. (Eds.). (2013). Exploring the human past: A global perspective. Routledge.
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• Scarry, C. (2014). Exploring the past through computational modeling: The example of the Chaco World. In Exploring the human past: A global perspective (pp. 415-430). Routledge.
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Computational Approaches to the Study of Movement in Archaeology: Theory, Practice and Interpretation of Factors and Effects of Long Term Landscape Formation ... – Berliner Studien der Alten Welt Book 23)

by Robert H. Armstrong

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4147 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	144 pages

FREE