Investigating the agricultural economy in the Roman Dutch limes zone via agent-based modelling
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-02-27

This paper presents the final results of an agent-based modelling approach to investigate the limitations on the agricultural economy of rural settlements in the Dutch limes zone between the late Iron Age and Middle Roman periods.
This research was undertaken under the remit of Finding the limits of the limes project specifically to understand the possibilities of agricultural production under the natural and cultural conditions present in the region in the Roman period. Specifically, we have used a spatial dynamic approach to reveal how the availability of land and labour affected agricultural productivity of farmers and possibilities of surplus production.
We have developed an agent-based model using NetLogo to analyse the principle determinants and limitations on subsistence and surplus farming in the region. The model simulates in unison the major tasks within a mixed agricultural economy: arable farming, animal husbandry and collection of wood for fuel and construction. Initial experiments were conducted to analyse the demand placed on land and labour by settlements undertaking these tasks within a subsistence-based economy. Further scenarios were simulated in which diverse agricultural strategies were undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of these different approaches in producing surplus.
This paper presents a detailed description of the simulation model including assumptions, behavioural rules and primary characteristics before presenting the results of key scenarios simulated, including both scenarios used as heuristic devices and those based upon data derived from archaeological data. Subsequently, the principle findings of this ABM approach to modelling the ancient rural economy of the Dutch limes zone will be shown and, in particular, how these findings impact on the current state of knowledge. Finally, the usefulness and limitations of our approach to the investigation of a complex system such as agriculture will be offered.

Jamie Joyce, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam