Abstract
In some regions of the disciplines, highly abstract models such as Sugarscape are now seen as a new kind of whole society model better able to help us understand human societies than their realistic and detailed predecessors. I trace the evolution of archaeological simulation from its realist-generalist roots to its abstract generalist present. Initial models focused on particular archaeological contexts, but their aim was to create general explanations of human social and archaeological phenomena. Highly realist and particularist models soon followed that prioritized detailed understanding of a particular case for its own sake. Models are now emerging that seek to create general explanations of human phenomena and that use completely abstract contexts that are not tied to any particular archaeological case. Whole society modeling was initially seen as requiring very realistic portrayals of particular contexts.
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Costopoulos, A. (2015). How Did Sugarscape Become a Whole Society Model?. In: Wurzer, G., Kowarik, K., Reschreiter, H. (eds) Agent-based Modeling and Simulation in Archaeology. Advances in Geographic Information Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00008-4_11
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