This model helps archaeologist finding answers on how ancient salt mining in Hallstatt might have looked like. In order to understand how many people were needed to supply the miners with wood, it simulates the wood harvesting process. The model calculates energy-efficient routes to get to the trees and home again and produces results for the time and calories needed and to harvest and carry (an arbitrary amount of) wood.

In the first scenario a single lumberjack goes out for a random tree – with arbitrary size and location. The lumberjack chops the tree and brings it home regardless of its size –even if it would be physically impossible.

The second scenario is more realistic. It features two lumberjacks and an arbitrarily sized and positioned tree. This time the lumberjacks do not go out to harvest it if the tree would be too big for them to carry it home.

Scenario three features a population of ten lumberjacks and five trees. This time the lumberjacks organize themselves to chop and bring in the trees. The fourth scenario is works the same as the third, just with larger populations.