The application of Network Science to the study of Atlantic Rock Art
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 26/09/2019

Atlantic Art is a form of open-air prehistoric rock art of geometric and abstract design, typically carved on open-air outcrops and boulders. It has a wide geographic scope, being found in a number of modern countries of the Atlantic façade, such as Portugal, Spain, Ireland, England and Scotland. Although Atlantic Art has a long biography of research and an overwhelming presence, there is little understanding of the relationships responsible for the widespread iconography, although it has been suggested that the rock art of the various countries share a common origin. In this paper we will explore the similarities and differences between the rock art of five different study areas (one per mentioned country), analysed through the application network science, comprising a comprehensive dataset which includes the characteristics of the motifs’ morphology, landscape setting, carving techniques, compositions, results of spatial analyses. This formal method enabled the development of an effective relational analysis of the dataset encompassing all of the dataset by identifying relational patterning in a complete similarity network including all 100 recorded variables (i.e. without the need to remove any information). This was achieved by applying the Louvain modularity measure incorporating attribute presence/absence as edge values in the analysis. The data was analysed at different levels with different data selections. This approach allowed for the identification of regional preferences and contributed to a clearer insight into the connectivity and cultural transmission, emphasising meaningful relationships of attribute similarity and difference between the traditions of all countries could be identified.

(Joana Valdez-Tullett, Tom Brughmans)