Past, Present, and Future of Complex Systems Theory in Archaeology

Throughout the history of archaeology, researchers have evaluated human societies in terms of systems and systems interactions. Complex systems theory (CST), which emerged in the 1980s, is a framework that can explain the emergence of new organizational forms. Its ability to capture nonlinear dynami...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of archaeological research Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 549 - 596
Main Author Davis, Dylan S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.12.2024
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Anthropology
Archaeology
Complex adaptive systems
Social Sciences
System theory
Complex systems theory
Archaeological theory
Complex adaptive systems
Resilience
Sociopolitical organization
Inequality
Scaling theory
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Throughout the history of archaeology, researchers have evaluated human societies in terms of systems and systems interactions. Complex systems theory (CST), which emerged in the 1980s, is a framework that can explain the emergence of new organizational forms. Its ability to capture nonlinear dynamics and account for human agency make CST a powerful analytical framework for archaeologists. While CST has been present within archaeology for several decades (most notably through the use of concepts like resilience and complex adaptive systems), recent increases in the use of methods like network analysis and agent-based modeling are accelerating the use of CST among archaeologists. This article reviews complex systems approaches and their relationship to past and present archaeological thought. In particular, CST has made important advancements in studies of adaptation and resilience, cycles of social and political development, and the identification of scaling relationships in human systems. Ultimately, CST helps reveal important patterns and relationships that are pivotal for understanding human systems and the relationships that define different societies.
ISSN:1059-0161
1573-7756
DOI:10.1007/s10814-023-09193-z