Application of Slime Mould Computing on Archaeological Research

Solving complex optimization problems by using biological computing substances, such as the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum, is lately a commonly proposed technique. Moreover, as the successful evaluation of modern human-made motorways in several countries has been demonstrated, the same is expected when using that biological computer for transport networks built in historical time periods. To accelerate the computations a Cellular Automata model, proposed previously, that can approximate the computing abilities of the plasmodium has been used. Here the area of Balkans was considered, so as to evaluate the Roman road network built during the imperial period (1st century BC–4th century AD) which was of paramount significance in terms of maintaining the East territories of the Roman Empire under control. The results produced in the laboratory experiments and those delivered by the proposed model successfully approximate segments of the actual Roman road network. Exploring the efficiency of Physarum-based computers and bio-inspired algorithms can lead to an unconventional, interdisciplinary method that will be implemented in the field of archaeological research.

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