Book contents
- Network Science in Archaeology
- Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology
- Network Science in Archaeology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Boxes
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction to the Online Resources Associated with This Book
- 1 Introducing Network Science for Archaeology
- 2 Putting Network Science to Work in Archaeological Research
- 3 Network Data
- 4 Exploratory Network Analysis
- 5 Quantifying Uncertainty in Archaeological Networks
- 6 Network Visualization
- 7 Spatial Networks and Networks in Space
- 8 Uniting Theory and Method for Archaeological Network Research
- Book part
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
1 - Introducing Network Science for Archaeology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2023
- Network Science in Archaeology
- Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology
- Network Science in Archaeology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Boxes
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction to the Online Resources Associated with This Book
- 1 Introducing Network Science for Archaeology
- 2 Putting Network Science to Work in Archaeological Research
- 3 Network Data
- 4 Exploratory Network Analysis
- 5 Quantifying Uncertainty in Archaeological Networks
- 6 Network Visualization
- 7 Spatial Networks and Networks in Space
- 8 Uniting Theory and Method for Archaeological Network Research
- Book part
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
Summary
Networks are nothing more than a set of entities and the pairwise connections among them. This simple definition encompasses a tremendous amount of variation from communication systems like the internet to power grids to neurons in the brain to road systems and flights between airports to our own social networks defined through familial ties, acquaintance, or any manner of interaction one could imagine. Over the last 20 years or so, academic interest in networks and the complex properties of network systems has grown by leaps and bounds. This has been mirrored by a growing excitement by the public in general (see best-selling works including Barabási and Frangos 2014 and Watts 2004). It is not uncommon these days to see networks and network visuals used as explanatory tools in news stories or popular articles shared across social media (another kind of network) exploring the complicated connections among characters in television shows, books, or people and organizations involved in news stories. Everyone, it seems, is excited about networks and networks are everywhere.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Network Science in Archaeology , pp. 1 - 25Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023
References
Further Reading
The following resources provide detailed accounts of the history and applications of archaeological network research using a broad array of examples.
In addition to the above archaeological resources, the following general network texts provide excellent introductions to the history of network research, network science, and some of the most common applications.