Culture History and Convergent Evolution: Can We Detect Populations in Prehistory?

Description

This volume brings together diverse contributions from leading archaeologists and paleoanthropologists, covering various spatial and temporal periods to distinguish convergent evolution from cultural transmission in order to see if we can discover ancient human populations. With a focus on lithic technology, the book analyzes ancient materials and cultures to systematically explore the theoretical and physical aspects of culture, convergence, and populations in human evolution and prehistory. The book will be of interest to academics, students and researchers in archaeology, paleoanthropology, genetics, and paleontology. The book begins by addressing early prehistory, discussing the convergent evolution of behaviors and the diverse ecological conditions driving the success of different evolutionary paths. Chapters discuss these topics and technology in the context of the Lower Paleolithic/Earlier Stone age and Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age. The book then moves towards a focus on the prehistory of our species over the last 40,000 years. Topics covered include the human evolutionary and dispersal consequences of the Middle-Upper Paleolithic Transition in Western Eurasia. Readers will also learn about the cultural convergences, and divergences, that occurred during the Terminal Pleistocene and Holocene, such as the budding of human societies in the Americas. The book concludes by integrating these various perspectives and theories, and explores different methods of analysis to link technological developments and cultural convergence. Preface Contents Contributors 1 Into the Tangled Web of Culture-History and Convergent Evolution Background and Context Archaeology on the Rocks Context and Chronology Converging Population Thinking Diversification The Chapters Conclusion References 2 The Unity of Acheulean Culture Abstract Introduction An Anecdotal Experiment of Biface Transmission Acheulean Biface Elongation The First Appearance of the Acheulean The Movius Line Conclusion Acknowledgments References 3 Problems and Pitfalls in Understanding the Clactonian Abstract Introduction The Clactonian World and Its Sites What Exactly is the Clactonian? How should we interpret the Clactonian? References 4 Culture and Convergence: The Curious Case of the Nubian Complex Abstract Introduction History of the Nubian Complex The Nubian Complex in Northeast Africa Nubian Levallois Technology Elsewhere in Africa The Nubian Complex in Arabia Nubian Levallois Technology in the Levant Nubian Levallois Technology in India Nubian Levallois Technology Conclusion Acknowledgements References 5 Lithic Variability and Cultures in the East African Middle Stone Age Abstract Introduction Lithics and Paleolithic Cultures Mechanisms of Culture Change Cultural Transmission Theory Culture as a Biological Adaptation Lithics and Cultures in East Africa Origin of Levallois Technology Origin of Blade and Bladelet Technology Raw Materials Transfer and Territories Towards an Understanding of MSA Human Groups Acknowledgments References 6 A Matter of Space and Time: How Frequent Is Convergence in Lithic Technology in the African Archaeological Record over the Last 300 kyr? Abstract Introduction The Phenomenon of Convergence: Definition, Delimitation and Archaeological Expectations What Is at Stake? Tracing and Identifying Past Populations with Stone Tools Approach and Method Space and Time: Convergence in the African MSA and LSA The Small Scale: Site Sequences in South Africa The Regional Scale: Folding Space into Time in Southernmost Africa The Large Scale: The African Continent How Frequent is Convergence? A Matter of Space, Time and Resolution Implications for Identifying Human Populations and Dispersals Acknowledgements References 7 Technology and Function of Middle Stone Age Points. Insights from a Combined Approach at Bushman Rock Shelter, South Africa Abstract General Overview of Middle Stone Age Point Production in Sub-Saharan Africa Middle Stone Age Point Functions Tool Use Hafting Adhesives Bushman Rock Shelter MIS 5 Middle Stone Age Points Insights from the Technological Approach Insights from the Use-Wear Approach Insights from Residue Analysis Bushman Rock Shelter in Context Point Production as a Way to Approach Population Patterning Concluding on Points as Equivocal Tools Acknowledgements References 8 Raw Material and Regionalization in Stone Age Eastern Africa Abstract Introduction Lithic Raw Material Variability in Eastern Africa Handaxe Variability at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Size and Retouch Intensity Among MSA Sites in Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia Quantifying Quartz Variability at Nasera Quartz and the Abundance of Typical Later Stone Age (LSA) Tools Backed Pieces and the Later Stone Age Eburran in Kenya Discussion and Conclusions Acknowledgements References 9 The Middle-Upper Paleolithic Transition: A Long-Term Biocultural Effect of Anatomically Modern Human Dispersal Abstract Introduction Background: Continuity and Change in Populations, Technologies and Social Networks The Big Picture: Biocultural Evolution in the MP-UP Transition From Big Picture to Intimate-Scale Biocultural Dynamics Stone Tools, Intimate Social Settings, Cooperation, and Cultural Reproduction Expanding the BACT Framework: From Teaching and Learning to Discourse and Innovation From Intimate and Embodied Contexts to Metapopulation Dynamics and Neanderthal-AMH Admixture Intimate-Scale Decision-Making and Cooperative Innovation: From the Oldowan to the Upper Paleolithic Considering Innovation-Adoption in the MP-UP Transition: The Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) as a Case Study From Theory to Method: Evaluating Innovation and Transmission Patterns in a Mosaic MP-UP Transition Multivariate Statistical Approaches to Conservatism and Innovation in Late Pleistocene Hunter-Gatherer Social Networks Methodological and Sampling Challenges to Chronology-Building Measuring Economic and Socio-political Factors in Innovation Adoption Back to the Initial Upper Paleolithic: Reconsidering Economic and Sociopolitical Factors in the Adoption or Spread of IUP Technologies Conclusion: Why So Much Change Between 50 and 40 ka? Acknowledgments References 10 Threading the Weft, Testing the Warp: Population Concepts and the European Upper Paleolithic Chronocultural Framework Abstract Introduction Populations in the European Upper Paleolithic Upper Paleolithic Cultural Taxonomy The European Upper Paleolithic Chronocultural Framework: Warp and Weft Threading the Weft: Comparative Material Culture Study Testing the Warp: The Importance of Chronology Stratigraphy Radiocarbon Chronology Coherence and Convergence Alternative Perspectives A Brief Case Study: Mid Upper Paleolithic Russia Can We Infer the Existence of Past Populations from the Archaeological Record? Comparing Archaeological and Paleogenetic Evidence Conclusions Acknowledgements References 11 Communities of Interaction: Tradition and Learning in Stone Tool Production Through the Lens of the Epipaleolithic of Kharaneh IV, Jordan Abstract Introduction The Epipaleolithic Period in Southwest Asia Archaeological Approaches to Technology The Study of Technology in the EP of Southwest Asia Lithic Technology as Social Practice Approaches to Lithic Technology: Chaîne Opératoire, Refitting and Experimental Archaeology The Chaîne Opératoire and Communities of Practice The EP of Southwest Asia Kharaneh IV, Eastern Jordan Analyzing the Kharaneh IV Assemblage Stone Tool Production at EP Kharaneh IV: The Nature of Occupation Over Space and Time Area B and the Early EP Area a and the Middle EP Reconstructing Phases of Occupation Stone Tool Production at EP Kharaneh IV: What to Do with Variability? Raw Material Choice Knowledge, Skill and Learning Style and Function Discussion: What’s the Point? Conclusions: Implications for Understanding Prehistoric Technology Today References 12 Toward a Theory of the Point Abstract Typology Describing Points Points as Tools Weapon System Systemic Number S and Uselife L Assemblages Types as Historical Units Time-Space Distributions of Types Properties of Type Floruits Stasis and Sensitivity in Types Diversification: Origins and Fate of Types Broader Disciplinary Context Conclusion Acknowledgments References 13 Learning Strategies and Population Dynamics During the Pleistocene Colonization of North America Abstract Introduction Cultural Units, Transmission, and the Problem of Analogy Style and Function: Not a Simple Dichotomy Phylogeny and Cladistics Learning: The Basis of Cultural Transmission Copying A Map of Decision Making Fitness Landscapes Clovis Populations and Patterns of Learning Conclusion Acknowledgments References 14 Culture, Environmental Adaptation or Specific Problem Solving? On Convergence and Innovation Dynamics Related to Techniques Used for Stone Heat Treatment Abstract Introduction The Southern African Middle and Later Stone Age The European Upper Paleolithic Solutrean The Mesolithic Beuronian The Neolithic Chassey Culture The Paleo-Indian Evidence for Underground Heating Similarities, Dissimilarities, Convergence? Outlook Acknowledgements References 15 Style, Function and Cultural Transmission Abstract Introduction Cultural Evolution and Lithics Artefact Production Building and Testing Models Conclusion References Index