Lunch Club Series: Network Modelling of Maritime Commerce
From The Observatory
The Roman Mediterranean comprised a vast web of interconnected maritime commercial networks operating across multiple scales. These trade routes enabled the large-scale distribution of wine, olive oil, and other agricultural products transported in amphorae.
This talk presents recent research that strives to better understand the decision-making processes of the seafarers who sustained this commerce. This work applies geocomputational methods to model the most efficient sailing routes for Roman cargo ships across different times, days, and seasons. The models are derived from wind and current data, which are translated into sailing speeds and, ultimately, transport costs. These “natural” optimal routes are then compared with amphora distributions and historical evidence from selected port sites which represent the routes that were materially realized by ancient mariners. By juxtaposing modeled efficiency with archaeological reality, this study aims to reveal how environmental conditions, economic incentives, and human agency collectively shaped maritime trade in Antiquity.Key Speaker: Naseem Raad
Participants
Stanford Archaeology Center
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The Stanford Archaeology Center is an interdisciplinary hub focused on innovative research and education in archaeology and heritage. We seek to understand the past and also the complex ways in which the archaeological past contributes to contemporary and future worlds. We work to redress the colonial foundations of archaeology through an enduring commitment to ethics and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through dedicated lab facilities, workshops and lectures with distinguished scholars, opportunities for hands-on fieldwork and access to the Stanford University Archaeology Collection, the Center supports excellence in archaeological research and fosters dynamic links between scholars in disparate fields.
