Modelling Agricultural resilience in the historical Engaruka water-management system

The archaeological site of Engaruka, Tanzania (c. 15th - 18th Century CE) and its modern counterpart provide important evidence of water-management practices over the last 500 years. Stratigraphic and archaeological research on the historical site provides evidence of the extent and structure of the irrigation system in Engaruka. However, little is known about the dynamics of human-environment interactions that influenced its development, expansion and continued use during periods of environmental change. Agent-based modelling provides an opportunity to combine archaeological evidence with modelling techniques to develop reconstructions of the Engarukan system. By simulating the dynamic human-environment interactions and the key feedbacks, this research aimed to represent the reciprocal impacts of human activity on natural systems and of environmental change on human decision-making. These simulations enable researchers to refine understanding of the sustainability and resilience of the historical Engarukan system, as well as having applications in the development of modern water-management programmes.

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