Dendrochronological studies demonstrate a highly dynamic settlement system in prehistoric wetland sites in the northern Alpine forelands. In this article, we apply an agent-based simulation model of the human–environment system to better understand possible causes of these dynamics. Therefore, we formulate a generic quantitative model of land use and calorie supply in Neolithic wetland sites ca. 4300–3700 bc. Archaeological, geographical and palaeoenvironmental data together with information from an agronomic crop yield model (MONICA) are used in an agent-based simulation of Neolithic land use (WELASSIMO model). We fit the generic model to specific conditions at six archaeological sites and their surrounding environments, using local data. In our simulations, annual crop yields fluctuate markedly around a long term mean which starts to decrease after a few years of crop production. Crop plants supply 60–90% of the annual calorie demand. As sources of readily available non-crop calories are needed to compensate potential low crop yields, we argue that Corylus avellana (hazelnuts) were especially important to provide these extra calories; the simulated importance of non-crop calories is 10–40%. Records of human-induced fires are interpreted as being indicative of a strategy to generally open up the woodland canopy and promote the growth of light-demanding hazel. The extent of the different land use methods is quantified and visualized in tiles of 8 km² around the six study sites. The specific vegetation cover, the importance of hunting and the number of livestock animals have a major effect on the total area required.

树木年代学研究表明，在高山北部前陆的史前湿地站点中存在高度动态的沉降系统。在本文中，我们将应用人与环境系统的基于代理的仿真模型，以更好地了解这些动态的可能原因。因此，我们建立了一个新石器时代湿地站点土地利用和热量供应的通用定量模型。4300-3700 BC。考古，地理和古环境数据，以及农作物产量模型（MONICA）的信息，都用于新石器时代土地利用的基于代理的模拟（WELASSIMO模型）。我们使用本地数据使通用模型适合六个考古现场及其周围环境的特定条件。在我们的模拟中，每年的农作物产量在长期平均水平附近有明显波动，在经过数年的农作物生产后开始下降。作物植物提供了年热量需求的60-90％。由于需要现成的非作物卡路里的来源来补偿潜在的低作物产量，因此我们认为榛子（榛子）对于提供这些额外的卡路里尤为重要；非作物卡路里的模拟重要性为10–40％。人为引发的火灾的记录被解释为总体上开阔林冠并促进需光榛树生长的策略的指示。在六个研究地点周围8 km ^2的瓷砖中，量化和可视化了不同土地利用方法的范围。具体的植被覆盖，狩猎的重要性和牲畜的数量对所需的总面积有重大影响。