O tempora O mores: Building an epistemological procedure for modelling the socio-anthropological factors of rural Neolithic socio-ecological systems: Stakes, choices, hypotheses and constraints

International audienceTrying to model a rural society, and even more so a past and disappeared rural society, is a dangerous task in the sense that we deal with the complexity of a whole society whatever the purpose of the model, to integrate and/or to simplify in a proper manner. This article deals with this complexity mainly by exploring the least risky way to apprehend it: starting from the question to be modeled, it is possible to gradually define the different scales, the set of variables to be considered, and therefore the disciplines to be included and mobilized. Then comes only the evaluation of the data quality criteria but also of their source. We are continuing with the scheduling of modules describing the environment itself, the resource use practices, and finally societal rules. Finally, we discuss the methodological, social, and professional constraints in involving people in the creation of such models