Style and Function: A Fundamental Dichotomy

Dunnell, Robert C.

doi:10.2307/279244

Cited by 364 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…There are two arguments to the contrary. First, older work within evolutionary archaeology concluded that symbolic (stylistic) traits should be used to infer historical relationships, because functional traits may be subject to selection and thus reflect convergence due to similarities in the social or physical environment (Dunnell 1978). However, symbolic traits may well be under cultural selection; for example, as identity markers that are chosen to differentiate a society from its neighbours (Barth 1969;Nagel 1994;Harrison 1999Harrison , 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring population histories using cultural data

2009

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The question as to whether cultures evolve in a manner analogous to that of genetic evolution can be addressed by attempting to reconstruct population histories using cultural data. As others have argued, this can only succeed if cultures are isolated enough to maintain and pass on a central core of traditions that can be modified over time. In this study we used a set of cultural data (canoe design traits from Polynesia) to look for the kinds of patterns and relationships normally found in population genetic studies. After developing new techniques to accommodate the peculiarities of cultural data, we were able to infer an ancestral region (Fiji) and a sequence of cultural origins for these Polynesian societies. In addition, we found evidence of cultural exchange, migration and a serial founder effect. Results were stronger when analyses were based on functional traits (presumably subject to natural selection and convergence) rather than symbolic or stylistic traits (probably subject to cultural selection for rapid divergence). These patterns strongly suggest that cultural evolution, while clearly affected by cultural exchange, is also subject to some of the same processes and constraints as genetic evolution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring population histories using cultural data

2009

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“…Abundant research (see Kirch 1997) indicates that the frequency of transmission between local populations in Remote Oceania declined during the first 500 years. Thus all else being equal, correlations between pairwise distance and motif similarity matrices for early sites should be greater than for late sites, because as transmission between local populations declines, these populations will probably diverge in their production and the use of stylistic motifs owing to drift (Dunnell 1978;Rogers & Ehrlich 2008).…”

Section: Phylogenetic Analyses Of Lapita Pottery E E Cochrane and C mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic analyses of Lapita decoration do not support branching evolution or regional population structure during colonization of Remote Oceania

Cochrane

Lipo

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Intricately decorated Lapita pottery (3100-2700 BP) was made and deposited by the prehistoric colonizers of Pacific islands, east of the main Solomon's chain. For decades, analyses of this pottery have focused on the ancestor-descendant relationships of populations and the relative degree of interaction across the region to explain similarities in Lapita decoration. Cladistic analyses, increasingly used to examine the evolutionary relationships of material culture assemblages, have not been conducted on Lapita artefacts. Here, we present the first cladistic analysis of Lapita pottery and note the difficulties in using cladistics to investigate datasets where a high degree of horizontal transmission and non-branching evolution may explain observed variation. We additionally present NeighborNet and phenetic distance network analyses to generate hypotheses that may account for Lapita decorative similarity.

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“…Archaeologists have suggested that functional elements of cultural artifacts may be subject to natural selection and convergence, whereas stylistic elements may be selectively neutral and thus more useful for detecting cultural affinities and chronological change (20)(21)(22). Human cultural groups, like genetic demes, live in different environments and have a high rate of within-group exchange of traits but also have the potential for some exchange with other groups through migration or cultural borrowing.…”

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confidence: 99%

Natural selection and cultural rates of change

Rogers

Ehrlich²

2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

138

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It has been claimed that a meaningful theory of cultural evolution is not possible because human beliefs and behaviors do not follow predictable patterns. However, theoretical models of cultural transmission and observations of the development of societies suggest that patterns in cultural evolution do occur. Here, we analyze whether two sets of related cultural traits, one tested against the environment and the other not, evolve at different rates in the same populations. Using functional and symbolic design features for Polynesian canoes, we show that natural selection apparently slows the evolution of functional structures, whereas symbolic designs differentiate more rapidly. This finding indicates that cultural change, like genetic evolution, can follow theoretically derived patterns.canoe design ͉ cultural evolution ͉ Polynesia ͉ signatures of selection

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Style and Function: A Fundamental Dichotomy

Cited by 364 publications

References 24 publications

Inferring population histories using cultural data

Inferring population histories using cultural data

Phylogenetic analyses of Lapita decoration do not support branching evolution or regional population structure during colonization of Remote Oceania

Natural selection and cultural rates of change

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