Exploring complexity with the Hohokam Water Management Simulation: A middle way for archaeological modeling

The Hohokam Water Management Simulation is a simulation model constructed to explore the dynamics that underlie the long-term trajectory of the Hohokam, a people who lived in what is today Arizona (USA) and who built large-scale irrigation systems and operated them successfully for approximately 1000 years. The nature of the data available and the form of questions that the context prompts lead to a novel modeling approach that is described here. The core of the approach is the ability to shift the model's components along axes from highly detailed to very abstract, while pursuing a suite of related but distinct goals. The intent is to allow questions about the behavior of the entire socionatural system to be investigated to discern and explore complex system dynamics. The modeling framework and underlying theory is explicated, a (purely demonstrative) example is presented, and current work and future plans are discussed.

► A distinctive approach to archaeological simulation modeling. ► Theoretical justification and potential for specialized modeling approach. ► Exploratory approach to modeling complex socionatural systems.