Simulating Springwells: A complex systems approach toward understanding Late Prehistoric social interaction in the Great Lakes region of North America

This dissertation examines the nature of Springwells phase (ca. A.D. 1160 to 1420) sociopolitical interaction and integration during the Late Prehistoric period (post A.D. 1000) in the Great Lakes region of North America. Combined ceramic analysis and computer simulation employing Agent Based Modeling (ABM) supports the interpretation that Springwells phase communities were organized in a form of sociopolitical integration most readily recognized as a loose confederation or interactive network of middle range, tribal societies spanning a broad area. The interpretation presented here differs from those in previous work in that it characterizes tribal sociopolitical organization as the embodiment of a complex system as outlined by the complexity science literature. A revised ceramics typology expands the resolution of the original Springwells phase ceramic typology, thus inserting a more fine-grained understanding of common stylistic design elements. This expanded taxonomy allows for increased resolution relating to the geographic distributions of Springwells stylistic motifs. Agent Based Modeling is then used to explore changes in relationships between cultural transmission (CT) and interactional exchange scenarios. A complexity science approach attributes the overall characteristics of the Springwells social network to emergent properties generated by individual agents that scale up and become recognizable at a system level. The advent of Late Prehistoric social complexity in the form of tribalization is seen as a social response to widespread political developments in the region. ABM is seen as an important new analytic tool through which to explore the parameters of past social behaviors.