Models of Mesopotamian Landscapes: How small-scale processes contributed to the growth of early civilizations

Models of Mesopotamian Landscapes: How small-scale processes contributed to the growth of early civilizations

Contributors

T.J. Wilkinson drk0tjw@durham.ac.uk
Editor

M. Gibson
Editor

M. Widell
Editor

Abstract

This volume demonstrates how models can contribute to an understanding of the development of ancient Mesopotamian settlement and landscape. The models are intended to show that early settlements co-evolved in an intimate relationship with their physical and social environments. Local rules that determined the subsistence practices of the householder then developed into more complex social mechanisms which culminated in the emergence of complex systems of settlement. Data for the models is drawn from archaeological surveys, environmental archaeology, anthropology and cuneiform texts. Although initially intended as an investigation of how agent-based models can contribute to understanding urban growth, this volume adopts a more broad-brush approach to include both 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' models as well as mathematical and qualitative methods.

Citation

Wilkinson, T., Gibson, M., & Widell, M. (Eds.). (2013). Models of Mesopotamian Landscapes: How small-scale processes contributed to the growth of early civilizations. Archaeopress

Book Type	Edited Book
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2013
Deposit Date	May 9, 2013
Publicly Available Date	Jan 24, 2014
Publisher	Archaeopress
Series Title	British Archaeological Reports International Series
Series Number	2552
Publisher URL	http://www.archaeopress.com/archaeopressshop/public/defaultAll.asp?SubjectArea=Landscape+Archaeology