Work

Outreach in Archaeology with Agent-Based Modeling: Part 3 of 3

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: A major challenge facing archaeologists is communicating our research to the public. Thankfully, new computational tools have enabled the testing and visualization of complex ideas in an easily packageable format. In this article we illustrate not only how agent-based modeling provides a platform for communicating complex ideas, but also how these game-like computer models can be explored and manipulated by members of the public therefore increasing their engagement in archaeological explanations. We suggest that these new digital tools serve as an excellent aid for education on the importance of archaeological sites and artifacts. To illustrate the above we walk the reader through a step-by-step pipeline of how to run an ABM model as an experiment and how to export it into a form ready to be sent to SHPO and THPO offices in tandem with reports. Ultimately, we hope that this work will help demystify the computational archaeology process and lead to more fluency in using agent-based modeling in research and outreach.

Source: Advances in Archaeological Practice

DOI: 10.1017/aap.2019.4

Authors: Stefani A. Crabtree, Kathryn Harris, Benjamin Davies, Iza Romanowska