Understanding ancient trade networks with graph theory
The Mycenaean Greeks were a dominant culture in the late Bronze Age, producing numerous marvels of engineering, architecture, art, and literature. But little is known about their culture and its relationships with the rest of the Mediterranean and Europe -much of our knowledge is inferred from epic literature like the works of Homer. Since the accuracy of these accounts is questionable, archaeologists have turned to analyzing trade records and good distributions to form models of how information and goods spread through the Aegean and beyond. In the paper linked above, Paulina Suchowska-Ducke of the Norwegian Institute at Athens analyzed archaeological finds of swords, dress fasteners, and jewelry to determine the major trade network running from northern Europe to Mycenae.
Suchowska-Duckes analysis reveals a trade network that is both fascinating and logical when analyzed with graph theory. Major trading hubs, such as those in the central Aegean, generally follow the Strong Triadic Closure property, with neighboring groups of cities all having direct ties between each other. Areas where the graph violates this principle are usually due to geographic reasons-no direct links exist between northern Italy, for example, and what is now central Germany due to the need to cross the Tyrolean Alps. This network also shows examples of multiple local bridges between components like Mycenae, modern Israel, and the Nordic countries. This is logical as it would be highly unlikely for a single bridge to form between these individual components due to economic pressure to trade with multiple groups.