Abstract: "Historical studies are frequently perceived to be characterised as clear narratives defined by a series of fixed events or actions. In reality, even where critical historic events may be identified, historic documentation frequently lacks corroborative detail that supports verifiable interpretation. Consequently, for many periods and areas of research, interpretation may rarely rise above the level of unproven assertion and is rarely tested against a range of evidence. Simulation provides an opportunity to break cycles of academic claim and counter-claim. This paper discusses the development and utilisation of large scale distributed Agent-based simulations designed to investigate the medieval military logistics in order to generate new evidence to supplement existing historical analysis. The work aims at modelling logistical arrangements relating to the battle of Manzikert (AD 1071), a key event in Byzantine history. The paper discusses the distributed simulation infrastructure and provides an overview of the agent models developed for this exercise."

A detailed research project overview with the Arts & Humanities e-Science Support Centre. "The MWGrid Project, or Medieval Warfare on the Grid is using agent-based modelling and distributed simulations to explore the military-logistical context of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The project is based at the University of Birmingham, UK."

Research project description."Professor Vincent Gaffney (IAA) and Dr Georgios Theodoropoulos (Comp. Sci.) have received a major E-science project grant of £447,000. The project, entitled "Warfare on the GRID", will use the new University "Large Cluster" to explore the military logistical context of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Manzikert is a key historic event in Byzantine history. The defeat of the Byzantine army by the Seljuk Turks, and the following civil war, resulted in the collapse of Byzantine power in central Anatolia. An event that was so traumatic that it became known as 'The dreadful day'. Given the key position this event takes within the collapse of Byzantine power, the lack of consensus between historians on the numbers of men involved at, or even the route taken by the Byzantine Army to, Manzikert is profound. "

"MWGrid is one of the seven pilot research projects to funded by the AHRC-EPSRC-JISC e-Science Intitiative. This is a collaborative project between The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity (IAA, Professor Vince Gaffney) and the School of Computer Science (Dr Georgios Theodoropoulos) at the University of Birmingham and seeks to address the problems associated with early military logistics through agent-based modelling and distributed simulations. At the IAA, the project builds on work initiated by Professors Vince Gaffney and John Haldon through the Birmingham/Princeton Medieval Logistics Group. At the School of Computer Science, the project builds on an extensive portfolio of research of the Distributed Systems Lab on distributed simulation of multi-agent systems, including the EPSRC/e-Science funded PDES-MAS and DS-GRID projects."

A PDF presentation of the research going on in the Medieval Warfare on the Grid project.

A video by Phil Murgatroyd discussing the Medieval Warfare on the Grid project. "Phil Murgatroyd worked for various parts of the computer industry for 12 years before starting a BSc in Archaeology at the University of Bradford in 2000. Since then he has worked on 8 field seasons of the Anglo-American Project in Pompeii between 2001-2008, both excavating and producing 3D visualisations. He has also completed an MA in Archaeological Research at the University of York focusing on the 3D visualisation of Pompeiian houses. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Birmingham and part of the Medieval Warfare on the Grid project. www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/projects/mwgrid/"