My research explores how urban dynamics, such as pedestrian movement, can be studied in the past when such activities remain invisible within the archaeological record. Until recently, movement within ancient cities has been approached by questioning how a city’s street network design influences mobility patterns. Methods like space syntax provide a basic understanding about how movement flowed through a city, however, this approach can only provide a general conception of urban movement dynamics. How different groups of pedestrians interacted and moved within an urban landscape, as well as various intents behind pedestrian movement remain unaccounted for and understudied. The application of agent-based modelling enables me to test existing theories and form new hypotheses concerning how people moved within and engaged with ancient built environments.
Modelling Processions at Ostia
I apply agent-based modelling to question how processions may have navigated the urban landscape of Ostia. Within the model, I address how processional routes are structured by passing different spectators groups associated with various urban activities which are identifiable within the archaeological record (commercial, production, residential, public, and religious activities). While spectators are just one factor that influence any given processional route, it provides a starting point for visualizing how theses rituals navigated Ostia’s urban landscape.
Processional Routes Influenced by Passing Commercial Activity