{
  "abstract": "This study examines whether material culture can serve as a proxy for past social interaction. Using the ArchMatNet agent-based model, we simulate social behavior in small-scale communities and resulting material culture production, then compare social and material culture networks. We compare networks using graph correlation and the quadratic assignment procedure, evaluate parameter effects with generalized additive models, and assess underlying structures with exponential random graph models. Within this simulated system, results show strong correlations between social interaction networks and material culture networks, especially when material culture traits are sufficiently variable. However, correlations weaken under some conditions, particularly low material culture variation, indicating limits to archaeological network inference. Key factors include interaction frequency, learning strategy, and trait visibility. These results characterize hypothetical relationships generated under the model’s assumptions; they do not constitute empirical validation. They highlight both the promise and the constraints of using material culture as a proxy for social networks and underscore the need for empirical testing and careful attention to network structure.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America",
    "HUMAN ORIGINS - Cluster of Excellence for Integrative Human Origins Studies (EXC 3101), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Robert J. Bischoff"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Cecilia Padilla-Iglesias"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/13h39j5tgmzhh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358860",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "13h39j5tgmzhh",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358860",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3316|Language and cultural evolution"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Molecular biology/Interaction networks"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Collective human behavior/Interpersonal relationships"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Network analysis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Network analysis/Centrality"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Network analysis/Social networks"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Systems science/Agent-based modeling"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Systems science/Agent-based modeling"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Simulation and modeling/Agent-based modeling"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Archaeology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Collective human behavior/Interpersonal relationships"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Culture"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Social networks"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222510172",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358860&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/13h39j5tgmzhh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358860",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358860"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Bridging material culture networks and social networks in archaeology",
  "title_text": "Bridging material culture networks and social networks in archaeology",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/13h39j5tgmzhh",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}