Using environmental predictive settlement choice models as input data for settlement pattern simulations

Scientific Conference (2020)

Inductive models of archaeological site locations have been successfully used for predicting archaeological potential of places in landscapes. These models are mostly based on currently observable ... [more ▼]

Inductive models of archaeological site locations have been successfully used for predicting archaeological potential of places in landscapes. These models are mostly based on currently observable environmental information. To reduce environmental determinism and increase both explanatory and predictive power several variables like visibility of locations have been interpreted as social factors of settlement locations. In the current paper we explore the possibilities of using inductive environmental models as input to simulation models. Although similar to models created for predictive purposes they need to be designed with different considerations. We present a study where we use inductive models of archaeological site locations to describe the spatial configuration of space environmentally suitable for residence. To do so we develop a conceptual agent-based model of residential choice based on discrete choice theory and theories of residential choice used in multiple fields from archaeology to contemporary urban studies. We discuss the role of environmental influences as perceived in archaeological data and how they relate to social influences and historical processes leading to emergence of settlement patterns. We argue that spatial structures of the inductive models of specific settlement patterns can inform us about the causal processes behind them when experimented with agent-based simulations. We present case study using inductive models of settlement locations from different periods of the Stone Age of Estonia. The differences of inductive settlement choice models and the ways of comparing them are discussed. The spatial configurations of the models of economic modes have different structures. For example region where settlements of water connected hunter-gatherers can be found has a different spatial structure than that of early agrarian communities. Those differences give insights on socioeconomic histories and can be used in explaining settlement pattern formation processes. [less ▲]

Central place foraging and hunter-gatherer settlement patterns: how resource depletion influences population concentration

Scientific Conference (2019, September 09)

Settlement patterns are one of the main products of the Stone Age archaeological research. Their emergence processes can be explained by different models of settlement and mobility choices done by past ... [more ▼]

Settlement patterns are one of the main products of the Stone Age archaeological research. Their emergence processes can be explained by different models of settlement and mobility choices done by past inhabitants. In current study we explore central place foraging (CPF) model of huntergatherers as a tool for exploring formation of settlement patterns. CFP model is used for describing mobility choices of hunter-gatherer groups. It implies the groups settle at a central location and make logistic forays to surrounding areas foraging for required resources. The central location is chosen by it’s optimal position in relation to those resources and the group is willing to leave the current base location if a better alternative arises. We introduce a spatially explicit Agent-Based Model (ABM) of the CPF and explore how heterogeneous environment influences the settlement pattern formation. The motivation to move in CFP comes from changes in the environment. An important part of the change is the depletion of existing resources by the hunter-gatherers themselves. We are using the ABM model to explore how depletion process influences the dispersal of huntergatherer groups in the environment and which conditions and strategies will result in higher concentration and clustering of the population. [less ▲]

Virtuaalsed agendid minevikku ennustamas

Article for general public (2018)

Transferring knowledge from locational predictive models into spatial Agent Based Models: generilizing human perception of environment

Scientific Conference (2018, March 22)

Predictive models have been used for finding potential archaeological site locations already for more than 40 years. In addition to their extensively used application in cultural heritage management they ... [more ▼]

Predictive models have been used for finding potential archaeological site locations already for more than 40 years. In addition to their extensively used application in cultural heritage management they can also offer insights into past human behaviour in relation to environment. The proposed paper discusses how the information gathered from predictive modelling of archeological settlements, especially the revealed from location determinants, can be transferred to spatial Agent Based Models. We argue that spatial simulation models, especially those based on agents behaviour, above all aim to build theory and create generalisable knowledge. They therefore need to free themselves form local contexts and particular spatial heterogeneities, and automatically test the effect of agents behaviour on a wider range of spatial configurations. In cultural heritage management, models are usually created using geographical variables of existing settlement patterns (eg. water access and land formations). For finding archaeological sites the model needs to be calibrated for specific accuracy and precision. In this paper we focus on defining the potential residential space – an area that could be considered by people of the past as suitable for habitation or specific economic activities. We develop a framework that links geographical variables and behaviour as extracted from empirical studies to the development of a theoretical spatial agent-based model. [less ▲]

Agent-based modeling as an interdisciplinary bridge in spatial humanities. Designing the modeling framework for simulation of Mesolithic settlement patterns

Scientific Conference (2018)

Settlement patterns have been one of the central products of Stone Age archaeological research. Because of long time spans and very scarce information, scientific explanations of the patterns are usually ... [more ▼]

Settlement patterns have been one of the central products of Stone Age archaeological research. Because of long time spans and very scarce information, scientific explanations of the patterns are usually limited to just defining the areas of the phenomena of interest. Any further deductions about past communities tend to be without additional proof and thus presented as hypotheses in scientific literature. In this paper we introduce a study that seeks to create a general framework for modeling the emergence of settlement patterns. The central concept for modeling is the human / social perception of the environment and how it is related to potential residential space – places that can be used for human habitation. We hypothesize that the human perception can be used to simulate the processes of emergence of immigration and seasonal mobility. The first goal of the research is to identify possible knowledge sources (eg. paleoecology, geography, geology, anthropology) that give information about residential mobility of pre-agricultural societies. The second goal is to translate selected knowledge to algorithmic representation and evaluate its usability for modeling. The purpose of which is to find the determining factors in the emergence of the settlement patterns and to distinguish between emerging and irreducibly complex phenomena. [less ▲]

Quantifying the Use of stones in the stone age Fireplaces of Estonia

in Archaeologia Lituana (2017), 17(17), 26-34

Fireplaces and burnt stones related to them are common features found at Stone Age settlement sites. Although information about them is present in archaeological reports and also available in publications ... [more ▼]

Fireplaces and burnt stones related to them are common features found at Stone Age settlement sites. Although information about them is present in archaeological reports and also available in publications, there has been no general research done regarding combustion features specifically. The purpose of this study was to fill the gap of relevant research and to test the hypothesis that the structural features of fireplaces reveal information on the subsistence model of settlements.The study is based on a database of Estonian Stone Age fireplaces, which was compiled by using the available data on all excavated objects. The database includes 167 fireplaces and contains quantifiable data about stones in fireplaces.The analysis of data revealed that the use of stones in fireplaces changed significantly in time. While most of the Mesolithic fire-places contain them, they become scarce in the Neolithic. It can be concluded that the use of stones in fireplaces is related to the economy of settlements and changes within time reflect the changes in general subsistence strategies. Keywords : fireplaces, hearths, quantitative analysis, reuse of data, Mesolithic, Neolithic. [less ▲]

Kiviaegsed tuleasemed Eestis

Bachelor/master dissertation (2015)

http://www.ester.ee/record=b4484001*est

Reinventing the wheel? Data management system for archaeological collections

Scientific Conference (2014, April 25)

We often think that we can do better than our predecessors. Over the last five months we have been working with a new archaeological data management system (called TARA) for the Archaeology Department of ... [more ▼]

We often think that we can do better than our predecessors. Over the last five months we have been working with a new archaeological data management system (called TARA) for the Archaeology Department of the University of Tartu in Estonia. Are we reinventing the wheel? Some years ago Stuard Eve presented the Archaeological Recording Kit (2008), a very flexible system, which can handle differently structured archaeological data. There are several other open source systems available. Time has passed and many new and useful web technologies are outperforming the classic PHP/MySQL approach. Our goal was to create the system where all the data structure could be modified without the need of a developer or writing any line of code. At the same time we strive to provide a good user experience and flexibility. Main keywords to describe the design principles of TARA: unrestricting, unstructured, extendable, interconnectable (with non-textual media), fast, scalable. At the moment all of the department’s data management is done using MS Excel spreadsheets. The main task of the the project is to get rid of the spreadsheets and merge it into system which provides a similar user experience via a web-based user interface. About 95% of the users are consumers of data, hence finding something fast is of utmost importance. The group of users acting as collection managers are doing data entry and for them very simple data-entry forms and workflows are created. The technical approach has taken benefits from many new web technologies and approaches. The RESTful API ensures all the data being easily accessible from outside the application and enables us to create different output layers, such as OIA-PMH. The database system is a nonrelational and no-SQL database, which makes many data-related procedures more flexible and faster. For a better user experience client-site data rendering is used. This is based on different . js-frameworks. All technologies used are open source - so is our project outcome. The project team contains developers who are specialised on museum- and cultural heritage related webapplications and two archaeologist with computer science background. [less ▲]

Kuus ruutmeetrit ajalugu. Sündmused Jägala-Joa IV asulakohal 2013. aasta kaevamistulemuste põhjal.

Article for general public (2014)

Arheoloogilised kaevamised Eestis 1799 – 1999. Võrguteavik.

Textual, factual or bibliographical database (2013)