Towards Archaeological Network

Analysis
Understanding Pottery Distributions

Tom Brughmans
 Issues in current archaeological
applications of network analysis

The role of archaeological data in networks

The diversity of network structures, their
consequences and their interpretation

The critical use of quantitative tools

The influence of other disciplines, especially
sociology
 1.
The role of archaeological data in
networks
 2.
The diversity of network structures,
their consequences and their
interpretation
(Sindbæk 2007: fig. 6)
 3.
The critical use of quantitative tools
 4.
The influence of other disciplines,
especially sociology
(Graham 2006: fig. 6.1.)
 Towards Archaeological Network Analysis
1. Consider the full diversity of archaeological
relationships

2. The use and interpretation of quantitative tools is

dependant on data and aims

3. Define networks and techniques

4. Exploratory and confirmatory network analysis

5. Influenced by all disciplines, but rooted in relational

thinking, archaeological reasoning and data critique
ICRATES
The ICRATES database of table wares from the Roman East
(Prof. Jeroen Poblome, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

Over 25000 sherds

 ICRATES Catalogue Location Deposit table Publication
table table table table
ICRATES ICRATES Site name Deposit ID Publication ID
unique ID unique ID
Catalogue Catalogue Ancient and Archaeologica Author
unique ID unique ID modern l context
names
Publication Fabric Environmental Deposit date Year
features (e.g.
sea, river,
topography)
Location (site) Standard form Modern Type of Reference
country deposit
 Aims
1. Understand the complexity of the ICRATES data

2. Explore economic information in ceramic data

3. Examine dynamics between physical and relational space

 Networks
1. Pottery distribution: co-presence network

2. Geographical hypothesis: distance network

3. Evolution distribution: diffusion network

 Pottery distribution:
co-presence networks
Sites 125-100 BC
Sites 100-75 BC
Sites 75-50 BC
Sites 50-25 BC
Sites 25-0 BC
Forms 75-50 BC

ESA
Forms 75-50 BC

ESD

ESA

ESC
Geographical hypothesis:
distance network
 Hypothesis:

“Roman table ware vessels were

transported during every part of their life
cycle over trade routes chosen to minimise
travel distance”
Beta skeletons
Transportation ESC
Evolution distribution:
diffusion network
ESC adoption
120

100

80

cumulative
60 percentage
of adopting
sites
40

20

0
175-150 BC 125-100 BC 75-50 BC 25-0 BC
200-175 BC 150-125 BC 100-75 BC 50-25 BC
 ICRATES table Catalogue table Location table Deposit table Publication table
ICRATES unique ID ICRATES unique ID Site name Deposit ID Publication ID

Catalogue unique ID Catalogue unique ID Ancient and modern Archaeological context Author
names
Publication Fabric Environmental features Deposit date Year
(e.g. sea, river,
topography)

Location (site) Standard form Modern country Type of deposit Reference

Deposit (context) Stamps Roman province (Late Ceramic objects in Year(s) of activity
Hellenistic, Early, deposit
Middle, Late Roman)

Functional category Measurements (rim Distance to sea Published notes Nationality team
and base diameters,
height)

Fragment (e.g. rim,

body)
shape (e.g. plate, cup)

function (e.g. food,

beverage)
epigraphy

description of
decoration
bibliographic reference
(p. and figs.)
Contact: tom.brughmans@yahoo.com

Presentation, bibliography, and more info on:

http://archaeologicalnetworks.wordpress.com/

ICRATES:
http://www.arts.kuleuven.be/icrates/
Acknowledgements: thanks to Prof. Jeroen Poblome, Prof. Simon Keay, Dr.
Graeme Earl and Leif Isaksen

Selected bibliography:

BARABÀSI, A.-L. and ALBERT, R. 1999: Emergence of Scaling in Random Networks. Science, 286,
509-512.
BENTLEY, R.A. and SHENNAN, S.J. 2003: Cultural Transmission and Stochastic Network Growth.
American Antiquity, 68, 459-485.
GRAHAM, S. 2009: The Space Between: The Geography of Social Networks in the Tiber Valley. In
Coarelli, F. and Patterson, H. (eds.), Mercator Placidissimus: the Tiber Valley in Antiquity. New
research in the upper and middle river valley. (Proceedings of the Conference held at the British
School at Rome, 27-28 Feb. 2004). (Rome, British School at Rome - Edizioni QVASAR), 671-
686.
GRAHAM, S. 2006: EX FIGLINIS, the network dynamics of the Tiber valley brick industry in the
hinterland of Rome (Oxford, Archaeopress).
ISAKSEN, L. 2008: The application of network analysis to ancient transport geography: A case study
of Roman Baetica. Digital Medievalist, 4, http://www.digitalmedievalist.org/journal/4/isaksen/.
KNAPPETT, C., EVANS, T. and RIVERS, R. 2008: Modelling maritime interaction in the Aegean
Bronze Age. Antiquity, 82, 1009-1024.
SINDBÆK, S.M. 2007: Networks and nodal points: the emergence of towns in early Viking Age
Scandinavia. Antiquity, 81, 119-132.
WATTS, D. and STROGATZ, S. 1998: Collective dynamics of ‘small-world’ networks. Nature, 393,
440-442.