Who We Are
The Computational Archaeology and Seafaring Theory (CAST) community of practice brings together an interdisciplinary group of archaeologists, ocean scientists, anthropologists, and practitioners with a shared interest in the study of past seafaring and its continuing traditions.
People’s relationship to the sea has profoundly influenced social, political, cultural, and economic systems. Despite this connection, the sea is dynamic. Marine environments present a special challenge to those looking at the relationship between humans and the sea. We aim to better understand humans’ relationships with the marine environment through computer modeling, studies of maritime heritage, working with seafaring communities, and researching the past.
The CAST group welcomes all members who are interested in seafaring, its past, and its traditions. We want to create a community around our shared interests. We offer cross-disciplinary discussions and share knowledge and resources about seafaring modeling and practices. We also offer educational opportunities for those getting started with computational modeling or for those who have experience in the study of seafaring and want to incorporate modeling into their work.
CAST especially supports early career researchers, Indigenous researchers, and people working with local communities who are interested in seafaring narratives, maritime cultural landscapes, maritime heritage, and computer modeling.
