[Aztlan] Modeling the formation of Monte Alban using "cultural algorithms"

[Steven Zoraster]

A paper about computer modeling of the formation of Monte Alban was published in the January 2008 issue of "Computer", the journal of the IEEE Computer Society. The paper title is, "Mining the Social Fabric of Archaic Urban Centers with Cultural Algorithms". 

(Authors: Reynolds, Ali and Jayyousi, all from Wayne State University.)

 From the web pages of the lead author ( http://tinyurl.com/2v5k45 ): 

"The goal of this project is to produce a large-scale knowledge-based computational model of the origins of the Zapotec State, centered at Monte Alban, in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. State formation took place between 1400 BC. and 300 BC. " ....

"Year 3: The model will then be used to test a various hypotheses concerning the emergence of complex systems. These hypotheses relate to the importance of processes such as chiefly cycling, hydraulic despotism, social circumscription, consolidation of resources, and territorial expansion among others. The results of the simulations will be compared with the patterns observed in the actual site settlement data for the valley."

Is anyone here familiar with this research?   

Steven Zoraster