Archaeology offers computer hope

Researchers will analyse ancient networks used to create pottery

Researchers hope a new study into ancient civilisations will help develop computer systems of the future.

The universities of Glasgow, Leicester and Exeter are taking part in a £1.75m project to analyse ancient traditions and techniques.

It is hoped that tracing links between people who made and used items such as coins and pottery will offer insight into early information networks.

Computing experts will then attempt to imitate any patterns.

The project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, will combine archaeology, archaeological science and computer science to investigate Greek, Punic and other civilisations, from the late Bronze age through to classical times.

'Better connected'

Prof Peter Van Dommelen, from the University of Glasgow, said: "By tracing the development of techniques and technologies used to create specific objects we will see how the developments crossed temporal, geographical and cultural boundaries.

"It is this pattern of passing-on and upgrading of information that our colleagues in computing science hope to imitate for the creation of computer systems that are better connected and more reliable."

Prof Lin Foxhall, principal investigator of the project at Leicester University, said understanding how societies came to operate would help researchers "address pressing issues we face today".