Theme:
1. Artefacts, Buildings & Ecofacts
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Modelling Theory in Computational Roman Archaeology
Content:
Theory and method are thriving like never before in current Roman archaeology. Computational and natural science methods abound in the field, and the theoretical landscape in Roman Studies is rich and diverse (as illustrated by the scope of the new Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal: https://traj.openlibhums.org/ ). Moreover, the availability of massive amounts of richly documented material culture and the availability of textual sources have enabled Roman Studies to lead in certain areas, including the application of network science, linked open data, simulation, and space syntax. Huge new linked open databases and complex systems theory modelling in particular reveal the prospect of significantly enhancing our understanding of this highly structuring era in European history.
It is crucial that this momentum goes hand-in-hand with a critical attitude towards the necessary overlap between theory and method. On the one hand, theory development needs to consider representability, comparability, testability and assessment of plausibility. On the other hand, computational modelling of phenomena like movement between Roman settlements, the spread of strongly held beliefs like the cult of Mithras, or long-distance trade in Roman economic systems, necessarily rely on diverse and critical theory modelling and debate.
This session will debate the representation, comparison and development through computational approaches of current theory in Roman Studies.
Relevant topics include but are not limited to research in Roman Studies on applications of GIS, simulation including agent-based modelling and mathematical modelling, text mining, machine learning, acoustics modelling, network science, 3D modelling, space syntax and papers discussing the methodological or theoretical potentials and challenges of these approaches. All presenters are required to explicitly specify theories, and demonstrate how theories are formally represented in methodological approaches.
Keywords:
Classical Archaeology, Roman Archaeology, Simulation, Modelling, Agent-based modelling, Networks
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
yes
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Tom Brughmans (Denmark) 1
Co-organisers:
María Coto-Sarmiento (Germany) 2
Affiliations:
1. Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet) and Classical Archaeology, Aarhus University
2. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
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