A robust budding model of Balinese water temple networks

Bibliographic Data

ID3919498
AuthorsJ S Lansing (0000-0003-2132-5309, University of Arizona), Murray P Cox (0000-0003-1936-0236, University of Arizona), Downey (0000-0001-7671-6759, University of Arizona), Sean S Downey, Marco A Janssen (0000-0002-1240-9052, Arizona State University), John W Schoenfelder (0000-0001-7651-2828, University of California, Los Angeles)
Year2009
Volume41
Issue1
Pages112-133
Publication date2009-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438240802668198
OpenAlexW2058954454
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited14

Ethnohistory, genetics and simulation are used to propose a new 'budding model' to describe the historical processes by which complex irrigation communities may come into existence. We review two alternative theories, Wittfogel's top-down state-formation theory and common-pool resource management, and suggest that a budding model would better account for existing archaeological and ethnographic descriptions of a well-studied network of irrigation communities on the island of Bali. The budding model is supported by inscriptions and ethnohistorical documents describing irrigation works in and around the drainage of the Petanu River, an area with some of the oldest evidence for wet-rice agriculture in Bali. Genetic analysis of Y-STR and mtDNA shows correlated demographic histories and decreased diversity in daughter villages, consistent with the budding model. Simulation results show that the network of irrigation communities can effectively adjust to repeated budding events that could potentially shock the system outside the parameter space where good harvests can be maintained. Based on this evidence we argue that the budding model is a robust explanation of the historical processes that led to the emergence and operation of Petanu irrigation communities. Keywords: Baliirrigationgeneticspre-colonialinscriptionscomplex adaptive systems Acknowledgements This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the James McDonnell Foundation Robustness program at the Santa Fe Institute, the Yayasan Somia Pretiwi and the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta Indonesia. Permission for this research in Indonesia was granted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Genetic samples were obtained by JSL, Sang Kaler Surata and Tatiana M. Karafet with the assistance of Indonesian Public Health clinic staff, following protocols for the protection of human subjects established by both the Eijkman Institute and the University of Arizona Institutional Review Boards. Analysis and interpretation of genetic samples was assisted by Brian Hallmark and Brandon Gabler. Elisabeth Bacus contributed to the archaeological analysis of the subaks of Sebatu. We are grateful to S. Kobourov (University of Arizona) for access to the Computer Science Department's dispersed-computing grid. The National Science Foundation provided computational support via the San Diego Supercomputing Center under TeraGrid grant DBS060002T to MPC. Notes 1 'It is said that the first king of Mengwi, together with the lord of Blayu, built a dam in the river Sungi, just west of Blayu' (Schulte Nordholt 1996 Schulte Nordholt, H. 1996. The Spell of Power: A History of Balinese Politics, 1650−1940, Leiden: KITLV Press. [Google Scholar]: 58

Archaeology · Biology · Budding · Ethnohistory · Irrigation · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Cellular Automata and Applications · Ecology · History · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

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