Systems theory, computer simulations and archaeology
James E. Doran · World Archaeology · 1970
Until comparatively recently, say fifteen years ago, interpretive archaeology was a discipline which made virtually no use of mathematical or scientific techniques and concepts. Few suggested that it should. It was hard to see how the complex and ill-structured problems facing archaeologists could be tackled other than by the direct application of their own experience and intelligence. The outlook has changed somewhat. Scientific techniques such as radiocarbon dating, pollen analysis, and geomagnetic surveying have provided new and valuable sources of information for the archaeologist. Mathematical techniques such as seriation analysis and factor analysis have been used to try to make objective, and more powerful, reasoning previously carried out on a purely intuitive basis. Most of these mathematical techniques are still experimental, and have yet to be established as standard archaeological tools. The electronic computer has been deeply involved in these developments. Archaeologists collect large quantities of data, and if numerical techniques are to be used at all then a computer is almost certain to be needed to carry through the calculations. Of course, the rapid increase over the last decade in the computing facilities generally available partially explains why these techniques are receiving ever more attention. Similar trends are apparent in allied subjects such as anthropology and social geography. In particular, location analysis has influenced archaeologists, with its emphasis on the study of all aspects of a population and its environment, and on the use of quantitative methods and models (Haggett I963). In the last few years some archaeologists have become aware of another subject which, it seems, they should study. This is systems theory, sometimes equated with cybernetics. Not only does systems theory itself involve abstract ideas a little difficult to grasp for those with a non-scientific background, but it brings in its train other subjects such as information theory and games theory which are highly mathematical in content, and yet which are nevertheless claimed to be of archaeological significance. An archaeologist who is aware of these developments finds himself, apparently, faced with the choice either of losing touch with some of the most interesting and important developments in his subject, or of embarking upon a course of study for which nothing in his training has prepared him. This paper is an attempt to help such an archaeologist understand what systems theory is, and what it has to offer. It is written from the standpoint of a computer scientist with a good working knowledge of the archaeologist and his problems.