Archaeology has been historically reluctant to embrace the subject of agent-based simulation, since it was seen as being used to "re-enact" and "visualize" possible scenarios for a wider (generally non-scientific) audience, based on scarce and fuzzy data. Furthermore, modeling "in exact terms" and programming as a means for producing agent-based simulations were simply beyond the field of the social sciences.

This situation has changed quite drastically with the advent of the internet age: Data, it seems, is now ubiquitous. Researchers have switched from simply collecting data to filtering, selecting and deriving insights in a cybernetic manner. Agent-based simulation is one of the tools used to glean information from highly complex excavation sites according to formalized models, capturing essential properties in a highly abstract and yet spatial manner. As such, the goal of this book is to present an overview of techniques used and work conducted in that field, drawing on the experience of practitioners.

About the Author
Gabriel Wurzer is a computer scientist working on Agent-Based Simulation at Vienna University of Technology, in which field he is publishing, organizing workshops and holding lectures. Through cooperation with the Natural History Museum Vienna, he developed multiple models on prehistoric salt mining in the prehistoric mines of Hallstatt. Apart from Archaeology, he is also active in the field of Architectural planning, especially Hospital Simulation in the context of early design.

Kerstin Kowarik is an archaeologist working at the Natural History Museum Vienna specializing in the European Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. She is currently engaged with several research projects on the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt. Her research focuses on provisioning structures, organization of trade and human - environment interaction. She has a special interest in exploring the potential of computer based simulations for archaeological research, economic archaeology and environmental archaeology.

Hans Reschreiter is an archaeologist working at the Natural History Museum Vienna specializing in prehistoric crafts and technology as well as prehistoric mining. He is head of the archaeological excavations in the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt (Austria). His research focuses on working processes and mining technology. He has a special interest in prehistoric wood working, experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology.



Reviews

From the book reviews:

"Agent-based Modeling and Simulation in Archaeology provides a much-needed update, in one solid volume, on the methods and practice of using agent-based modeling to understand the past. ... The most useful portion of this book to those new to agent-based modeling is probably the Methods section. ... this book will be a worthwhile addition to our bookshelves, and I can already imagine incorporating it into courses in agent-based modeling." (simulatingcomplexity, simulatingcomplexity.wordpress.com, February, 2015)



Book Information
ISBN 9783319342825
Author Gabriel Wurzer
Format Paperback
Page Count 269
Imprint Springer International Publishing AG
Publisher Springer International Publishing AG