Connecting Communities in Archaic Greece: Exploring Economic and Political Networks through Data Modelling

Archaeological research at Olympia reveals that economic and political networks in Archaic Greece were more interconnected than previously thought, driven by lucrative trade routes and cultural exchanges. The study uses Proximal Point Analysis (PPA) to visualize marble, pottery, coin, and inscription datasets from 19th- and 20th-century excavations, demonstrating that these networks spanned the Aegean despite gaps in data. While the research confirms long-held theories like Peer Polity Interaction, it also highlights inconsistencies between digital humanities visualizations and historical records, suggesting that big data may not fully capture political or economic complexities. The findings underscore the potential of data modeling to both support established narratives and challenge them by revealing unexpected patterns.

Obert, J. (2024). Connecting Communities in Archaic Greece: Exploring Economic and Political Networks through Data Modelling. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 12(3), 339–342. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.12.3.0339