Articles by Marco Madella

The first stage of the Mapping the Archaeological Pre-Columbian Heritage in South America (MAPHSA) initiative integrates transregional datasets from Brazil and Colombia, encompassing a broad spectrum of cultural heritage. MAPHSA aims to construct an integrated database of legacy and new information pertaining to the pre-Columbian archaeological heritage of South America. It aims to provide an open-access digital repository grounded on the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles, thereby facilitating resource accessibility and fostering collaborative research. This database will benefit researchers within the surveyed countries, the international archaeological community, and national heritage agencies, consequently fortifying heritage preservation and promoting cross-border studies. MAPHSA adopts a multidisciplinary approach, combining archival research, remote sensing techniques, machine learning methodologies, and ground surveys to identify and evaluate the preservation status of archaeological sites. The workflow integrates diverse datasets into a Postgres/PostGIS geodatabase, complemented by the Arches information management platform incorporating a CIDOC-CRM ontology data model, drawing insights from analogous large-scale projects. By accentuating the heritage significance of regions such as the Amazon and the often-neglected Cerrado savanna, MAPHSA aims to alter public perceptions and stimulate concerted efforts towards their protection.

The use of Computer Simulation for the study of Physics or Biology has its roots in the 1940s. The Social Sciences and Humanities have recently become aware of the heuristic potential computational models have for the study of social dynamics, generating the new field of Social Simulation. Specifically, from the first applications of Computer Simulation to Archaeology, their complementary nature has been proved. Computer Simulation provides an ideal context as a virtual laboratory in which to experiment with dynamic processes and Archaeology provides the possibility of generating information about past social processes, both short and long-term. However, we need to make a profound epistemological and methodological reflection about the nature of this tool and the implications of using it in Archaeology. On this basis, SimulPast aims to develop a theoretical and methodological research platform, which is both innovative and trans-disciplinary. The Project aspires to improve the study of historical, social and ecological dynamics of human societies as well as to stimulate the debate on the scientific research process at large.