Darwinian Evolutionism Is Applicable to Historical Archaeology

Authors: O'Brien M.J.; Lyman R.L.

Source: International Journal of Historical Archaeology, Volume 4, Number 1, March 2000 , pp. 71-112(42)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Over the past decade or so, an increasing number of archaeologists have begun to show interest in employing Darwinian evolutionary theory to explain variations in the material record. Epistemological and methodological issues surrounding the implementation of Darwinian evolutionism in archaeology are numerous, the most basic of which is that Darwinism embodies a materialist perspective, whereas archaeology traditionally has maintained an essentialist outlook. Stemming from this dichotomy are fundamental differences in such things as how units are created and how they are used to measure change. As archaeologists grapple with these issues, specific examples of how Darwinian evolutionism can be used to build historical narratives and create historical explanations are appearing with more frequency, but with few exceptions, proponents have focused specifically on the prehistoric record. This gives the impression that Darwinian evolutionism is not applicable to the more-recent material record, which is decidedly not the case. The kind of evolutionism proposed here transcends the age of the record under investigation.

Keywords: evolution; archaeology; natural selection; classification; style; function

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211

Publication date: 2000-03-01