Navigating the Narrative: Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Embodied Practice within Computational Models of...

Area of Science:

• Maritime Archaeology
• Human-Environment Interaction
• Computational Social Science

Background:

• Human connection to the sea is complex, influenced by environment, identity, and heritage.
• Understanding seafaring requires integrating practical knowledge with computational analysis.
• Maritime heritage is shaped by diverse seafaring practices and motivations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted relationship between humans and the sea.
• To develop models for understanding past seafaring and maritime heritage.
• To integrate practical seafaring knowledge into computational analyses.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of the complexity of human-sea relationships.
• Reflection on navigational knowledge, mobility, and social aspects of seafaring.
• Consideration of experimental and experiential archaeology in modeling seafaring.

Main Results:

• Computational models of seafaring are more meaningful when grounded in known practices.
• Seafaring encompasses more than just activities on water.
• Social aspects of seafaring are crucial for guiding research and interpreting results.

Conclusions:

• A holistic understanding of seafaring, including social and practical elements, is essential for accurate modeling.
• Integrating experiential and archaeological data enhances computational approaches to maritime heritage.
• Future research should focus on the nuanced social dimensions of seafaring to improve quantitative models.