- Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Nexus II Building c/Jordi Girona, 29
08034 Barcelona (Spain)
- Human Evolution, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Lithics, Central and Eastern Europe, Commercial/ Contract Archaeology, Science journalism, and 68 moreLower Palaeolithic, Loess, Prehistoric Archaeology, Complex Systems Science, Complexity Theory, Evolution, Modeling and Simulation, Computational Modelling, Taphonomy, Evolutionary Anthropology, Agent Based Simulation, Complex Adaptive Systems, Complexity, Multiagent Systems, Agent-based modeling, MultiAgent Systems (Computer Science), Use Wear Analysis, Archaeological Site Formation Processes, Field Archaeology, Lower Paleolithic, Agent Based Modeling and Simulation, ABM, Central European Archaeology, Archaeology, Lithic Technology, Cultural Evolution, Paleolithic Europe, Archaeological GIS, Neanderthals (Palaeolithic Archaeology), Out Of Africa (Palaeolithic Archaeology), Archaeological Method & Theory, Middle Palaeolithic, Evolution and Human Behavior, Paleolithic Archaeology, Lower and Middle Paleolithic, Computer Applications & Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Lithic Analysis, Stone tools, Spatial analysis (Archaeology), Pleistocene, Lithic Technology (Archaeology), System Modeling and Simulation, History of Archaeology, Statistical Methods in Archaeology, Chaîne Opératoire, Modern human dispersal, out of Africa human dispersals, Digital Archaeology, Simulation (Computer Science), Digital Humanities, Archaeological Science, Palaeolithic, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Social Network Analysis (SNA), Spatial archaeology, Social Evolution, Multi-Agent Systems, GIS and Landscape Archaeology, Development of complex societies, Agent-Based Computational Economics, Diffusion of Innovations, Evolutionary Archaeology, Simulation, Dispersal Ecology, Prehistoric Technology, Complex Systems, and British Prehistory (Archaeology)edit
- Iza Romanowska Position: Senior Researcher at Barcelona Supercomputing Center I work within the broad subject of C... moreIza Romanowska
Position: Senior Researcher at Barcelona Supercomputing Center
I work within the broad subject of Complexity Science and Archaeological Computing. In my research I use simulation techniques, especially agent-based modelling, to investigate past processes such as the first human dispersal almost 2 million years ago and the development of the extensive trade networks in the Roman Empire.
Specialties: Agent Based Modelling, Simulation, Data Analysis, Complexity Science, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Human Origins, Lithic Analysis, Roman Trade
Tools: Python (incl. Pandas), Netlogo, QGIS, Redit
Complexity science refers to the theoretical research perspectives and the formal modelling tools designed to study complex systems. A complex system consists of separate entities interacting following a set of (often simple) rules that... more
Complexity science refers to the theoretical research perspectives and the formal modelling tools designed to study complex systems. A complex system consists of separate entities interacting following a set of (often simple) rules that collectively give rise to unexpected patterns featuring vastly different properties than the entities that produced them. In recent years a number of case studies have shown that such approaches have great potential for furthering our understanding of the past phenomena explored in Roman Studies. We argue complexity science and formal modelling have great potential for Roman Studies by offering four key advantages: (1) the ability to deal with emergent properties in complex Roman systems ; (2) the means to formally specify theories about past Roman phenomena; (3) the power to test aspects of these theories as hypotheses using formal modelling approaches; and (4) the capacity to do all of this in a transparent, reproducible, and cumulative scientific framework. We present a ten-point manifesto that articulates arguments for the more common use in Roman Studies of perspectives, concepts and tools from the broader field of complexity science, which are complementary to empirical inductive approaches. There will be a need for constant constructive collaboration between Romanists with diverse fields of expertise in order to usefully embed complexity science and formal modelling in Roman Studies.
Research Interests:
Formal models of past human societies informed by archaeological research have a high potential for shaping some of the most topical current debates. Agent-based models, which emphasize how actions by individuals combine to produce global... more
Formal models of past human societies informed by archaeological research have a high potential for shaping some of the most topical current debates. Agent-based models, which emphasize how actions by individuals combine to produce global patterns, provide a convenient framework for developing quantitative models of historical social processes. However, being derived from computer science, the method remains largely specialized in archaeology. In this paper and the associated tutorial, we provide a jargon-free introduction to the technique, its potential and limits as well as its diverse applications in archaeology and beyond. We discuss the epistemological rationale of using computational modeling and simulation, classify types of models, and give an overview of the main concepts behind agent-based modeling. Modelos cuantitativos robustos de sociedades humanas en el pasado tienen el potencial de informar los temas de debate actual, parti-cularmente modelos informados por estudios de arqueología. Modelos basados en sistemas multiagente proveen un marco práctico para explorar modelos cuantitativos de sociedades en el pasado. Aun así, al ser un método de informática no es aún bien establecido entre la mayoría de arqueólogos. En este artículo y el tutorial que lo acompaña, proveemos una introducción a estos métodos, libres de jerga técnica, su potencial y sus límites, y también las diversas aplicaciones en arqueología. Además, discutimos la epistemología de utilizar modelos computacionales y de simulación, clasificamos los tipos de modelos, y proveemos un resumen de los conceptos principales de los modelos multiagente. Palabras clave: Q2
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The grand ambition of most of the research concerning the Roman trade system, or indeed any trade system, is to identify what economic processes are at play and whether they can be reconstructed from the collected data. Compared to their... more
The grand ambition of most of the research concerning the Roman trade system, or indeed any trade system, is to identify what economic processes are at play and whether they can be reconstructed from the collected data. Compared to their counterparts studying modern economics archaeologists and ancient historians face an additional double hurdle of the incompleteness of the data and the uncertainty regarding the suitability of any one type of archaeological material as a proxy for the ancient economic processes. Here, we demonstrate how to overcome these limitations by using a formal computational method enabling researchers to match patterns detected in data to particular economic processes.
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With the proliferation of online learning, the future of classroom teaching has been called into question. However, the unfaltering popularity of brick-and-mortar courses indicates that direct access to expert knowledge and face-to-face... more
With the proliferation of online learning, the future of classroom teaching has been called into question. However, the unfaltering popularity of brick-and-mortar courses indicates that direct access to expert knowledge and face-to-face engagements remain key considerations for students. Here we showcase a combination of these two worlds in a Small Private Online Course (SPOC). Compared to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), SPOCs are developed for smaller and more dedicated target groups and depend on close engagement between teachers and students. This format enables educational providers to involve internal and external students and teachers alike and to make ample use of online resources. This paper is based upon our experiences of running a SPOC on ‘Modelling and Simulation in Archaeology’ at Leiden University. We review the process of developing and running the course aimed at teaching archaeology students computer programming skills, while supporting their development as professional archaeologists and responsible academics.
Research Interests: E-learning, Higher Education, Digital Archaeology, Learning and Teaching, Agent Based Simulation, and 9 moreModeling and Simulation, Online Learning, Learning And Teaching In Higher Education, Agent-based modeling, Computer Programming, Netlogo, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), MOOCs, and Small Private Online Course
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Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a powerful tool for understanding the dynamics of past social systems. Drawing on a survey of self-identified agent-based modelers in archaeology, we describe this community of practice in terms of gender,... more
Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a powerful tool for understanding the dynamics of past social systems. Drawing on a survey of self-identified agent-based modelers in archaeology, we describe this community of practice in terms of gender, education, employment, and research practices, highlighting similarities with, and distinctions from, the community of archaeologists at large. From the findings of the survey, we argue that more engagement with questions of practice within the modeling community, and more intra-disciplinary development of ABM teaching resources, may help to mainstream model thinking and reduce barriers to ABM use in archaeology.
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With the current surge of simulation studies in archaeology there is a growing concern for the lack of engagement and feedback between modellers and domain specialists. To facilitate this dialogue I present a compact guide to the... more
With the current surge of simulation studies in archaeology there is a growing concern for the lack of engagement and feedback between modellers and domain specialists. To facilitate this dialogue I present a compact guide to the simulation modelling process applied to a common research topic and the focus of this special issue of Human Biology—human dispersals. The process of developing a simulation is divided into nine steps grouped in three phases. The conceptual phase consists of identifying research questions (step 1) and finding the most suitable method (step 2), designing the general framework and the resolution of the simulation (step 3) and then by filling in that framework with the modelled entities and the rules of interactions (step 4). This is followed by the technical phase of coding and testing (step 5), parameterising the simulation (step 6) and running it (step 7). In the final phase the results of the simulation are analysed and re-contextualised (step 8) and the findings of the model are disseminated in publications and code repositories (step 9). Each step will be defined and characterised and then illustrated with examples of published human dispersals simulation studies. While not aiming to be a comprehensive textbook- style guide to simulation, this overview of the process of modelling human dispersals should arm any non-modeller with enough understanding to evaluate the quality, strengths and weaknesses of any particular archaeological simulation and provide a starting point for further exploration of this common scientific tool.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Humanities Computing (Digital Humanities), Digital Humanities, Research Methods and Methodology, Research Methodology, and 11 moreQualitative methodology, Digital Archaeology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Computational Modelling, Agent Based Simulation, Simulation Methodology, Modeling and Simulation, Dispersal Ecology, Agent-based modeling, out of Africa human dispersals, and Modern human dispersal
SHEEP (Simulating Hominin Expansion in the Early Pleistocene) is an Agent-based model (ABM) of the first Out of Africa, designed to explore the spatial pattern of Lower Palaeolithic site distribution in Europe. The SHEEP model uses a... more
SHEEP (Simulating Hominin Expansion in the Early Pleistocene) is an Agent-based model (ABM) of the first Out of Africa, designed to explore the spatial pattern of Lower Palaeolithic site distribution in Europe. The SHEEP model uses a deterministic environmental approach to evaluate potential routes into Europe and their impact on the pattern of site distribution in the eastern and western parts of the continent. The model consists of three main elements: 1) population growth, 2) a spatial spreading process and 3) the friction map, which includes both environmental and topographic information. The impact of different geographical projections on the outcome of the model has been evaluated. The results show that we are unable to reproduce the observed spatial pattern of European sites from differences in dispersal routes. This case study showcases the use of ABM as a simple and efficient tool for hypotheses testing with a high potential for archaeological applications.
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The pattern of spatial distribution of Lower Palaeolithic (LP) sites east of the Rhine is peculiar. The sites are rare; they do not come in clusters, and they do not seem to be associated with ancient river terraces. This is a robust... more
The pattern of spatial distribution of Lower Palaeolithic (LP) sites east of the Rhine is peculiar. The sites are rare; they do not come in clusters, and they do not seem to be associated with ancient river terraces. This is a robust pattern that has been recognized but not addressed as a distinct research topic so far. It may represent either a real past phenomenon such as climate variability, different dispersal routes ‘out of Africa’ or simply reflects modern research bias. A new alternative is suggested here based on recent developments in geological mapping. It is argued that uninterrupted mantel of glacial derived silt (loess) sealing interglacial soil levels may be covering traces of Lower Palaeolithic human activity at significant depths throughout most of Central and Eastern Europe.
Research Interests:
Agent-based modelling (ABM) has taken by storm disciplines from all corners of the scientific spectrum, from ecology to transport and social sciences and it is becoming increasingly popular in archaeology. Now it is your turn to give it... more
Agent-based modelling (ABM) has taken by storm disciplines from all corners of the scientific spectrum, from ecology to transport and social sciences and it is becoming increasingly popular in archaeology. Now it is your turn to give it go! Learn how to use the simulation software and explore how this popular complexity science technique can complement your research. This two-day workshop will provide an introduction to ABM using NetLogo - an open-source platform for building agent-based models, which combines user-friendly interface, simple coding language and a vast library of model examples, making it an ideal starting point for entry-level agent-based modellers, as well as a useful prototyping tool for more experienced programmers.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Human Evolution, Complex Systems Science, Digital Humanities, Research Methodology, and 14 moreComplexity Theory, Digital Archaeology, Computational Modelling, Agent Based Simulation, Archaeological Method & Theory, Digital History, Complexity, Modeling and Simulation, Quantitative Methods, Agent-based modeling, GIS and Landscape Archaeology, Simulation, Computer Applications & Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), and Archeology
A series of presentations (Amsterdam, Oxford, Tübingen) on the methodology of simulation.
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A lunch-time seminar, University of Leiden. October 2015
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A series of presentations (Barcelona, Burgos, Brighton, Oxford, Paris) 2014-2015.
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A short talk at University of Southampton (2012) summarising the use of mathematical approaches in modelling human dispersal. Largely based on Steele (2009).
Research Interests:
The First Out of Africa: an Agent Based Model of the earliest hominid dispersal The study of early hominid dispersals is a complex academic issue integrating data from several very different disciplines: archaeology, anthropology,... more
The First Out of Africa: an Agent Based Model of the earliest hominid dispersal
The study of early hominid dispersals is a complex academic issue integrating data from several very different disciplines: archaeology, anthropology, paleozoology, palaeoclimate studies and genetics. The aim of this paper is to show the potential of Agent Based Modelling (ABM) to integrate this data into one coherent framework while providing a unique platform for testing large scale hypothesis.
The current methodology for the study of dispersals is largely based on qualitative considerations. I would argue that a more quantitative approach integrating simulation with geographical methods could be more fruitful and bring new answers to old questions.
In order to test these assumptions a simple ABM model of the first Out of Africa has been developed using the popular modelling software NetLogo. The availability of different routes into Europe was the sole variable in this model. Yet, it proved useful to answer the following research question: is the lack of Lower Palaeolithic sites in Central and Eastern Europe a reflection of the dispersal routes? As a by-product of the model several unanticipated patterns emerged, showing the potential of ABM for studying early human dispersal.
The study of early hominid dispersals is a complex academic issue integrating data from several very different disciplines: archaeology, anthropology, paleozoology, palaeoclimate studies and genetics. The aim of this paper is to show the potential of Agent Based Modelling (ABM) to integrate this data into one coherent framework while providing a unique platform for testing large scale hypothesis.
The current methodology for the study of dispersals is largely based on qualitative considerations. I would argue that a more quantitative approach integrating simulation with geographical methods could be more fruitful and bring new answers to old questions.
In order to test these assumptions a simple ABM model of the first Out of Africa has been developed using the popular modelling software NetLogo. The availability of different routes into Europe was the sole variable in this model. Yet, it proved useful to answer the following research question: is the lack of Lower Palaeolithic sites in Central and Eastern Europe a reflection of the dispersal routes? As a by-product of the model several unanticipated patterns emerged, showing the potential of ABM for studying early human dispersal.
The pattern of spatial distribution of Lower Palaeolithic (LP) sites east of the Rhine is peculiar. The sites are rare, they do not come in clusters, and they do not seem to be associated with ancient river terraces. This is a robust... more
The pattern of spatial distribution of Lower Palaeolithic (LP) sites east of the Rhine is peculiar. The sites are rare, they do not come in clusters, and they do not seem to be associated with ancient river terraces. This is a robust pattern that has been recognized but not addressed as a distinct research topic so far. It may represent either a real past phenomenon such as climate variability, different dispersal routes ‘out of Africa’ or simply reflects modern research bias.
A new alternative is suggested here based on recent developments in geological mapping. It will be argued that an uninterrupted mantel of glacial derived silt (loess) sealing interglacial soil levels may be covering traces of Lower Palaeolithic human activity at significant depths throughout most of Central and Eastern Europe.
A new alternative is suggested here based on recent developments in geological mapping. It will be argued that an uninterrupted mantel of glacial derived silt (loess) sealing interglacial soil levels may be covering traces of Lower Palaeolithic human activity at significant depths throughout most of Central and Eastern Europe.
Agent Based Modelling (ABM) provides us with a unique platform for testing large scale hypotheses. It is particularly effective when dealing with the concept of movement, be it human expansion into new lands, cultural transmission over... more
Agent Based Modelling (ABM) provides us with a unique platform for testing large scale hypotheses. It is particularly effective when dealing with the concept of movement, be it human expansion into new lands, cultural transmission over vast distances or animal migration. Low density of Lower Palaeolithic finds in Central and Eastern Europe has been repeatedly attributed to particular dispersal routes and environmental impact. Creating a NetLogo ABM model of this process can assist in verifying this observation and revealing the pattern of the first human dispersal under constantly changing conditions of palaeoclimatic cycles. It also allows to address several methodological issues related to modelling dispersals in general, especially the application of the basic Fisher-KPP reaction-diffusion system and other mathematical models commonly used to replicate large scale human movements.