Demography and the intensity of cultural activities: an evaluation of Funnel Beaker Societies (4200–2800 cal BC)

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe Early and Middle Neolithic in Northern Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia is characterised by substantial changes in economic technology as well as in material culture in different periods. One of the main drivers for social development, but also for anthropogenic changes in the environment, is surely shifts in population density. To evaluate group sizes and population density we need archaeological proxies. Similar to other studies, we use 14 C dates to reconstruct the intensity of prehistoric activities. A comparison of the human impact from pollen data with a quantification based on 14 C dates proves a correlation which supports our appreciation of the value of sum-calibrated probabilities of radiometric measurements as a proxy for demographic developments. The large amount of usable dates in this study not only enables us to draw general conclusions on a supraregional level, but also makes it possible for us to compare the character of different areas on a regional scale. As a result, we reconstruct a significant rise in population between 4100 and 3500 cal BC and a degression around 3350e3100 cal BC, followed by a reiterated increase for the Funnel Beaker West and North Groups. On the Danish Isles, as well as in the Funnel Beaker North Eastern Group, different tendencies are observable.

The demography of the Upper Palaeolithic hunter–gatherers of Southwestern France: A multi-proxy approach using archaeological data

“…The use of radiocarbon date summed probability distributions ('dates as data' (Rick, 1987)) is also a popular palaeodemographic approach (e.g. Anderson et al, 2011;Armit et al, 2013;Bocquet-Appel et al, 2005Hinz et al, 2012;Kelly et al, 2013;Martínez et al, 2013;Meeks and Anderson, 2012;Munoz et al, 2010;Shennan, 2009Shennan, , 2013Shennan and Edinborough, 2007;Tallavaara and Seppä, 2011;Tallavaara et al, 2010;Wicks and Mithen, 2014;Williams, 2012Williams, , 2013Williams et al, 2010) which has already been applied to the dataset under discussion here (French and Collins, 2015).…”

Reconstructing regional population fluctuations in the European Neolithic using radiocarbon dates: a new case-study using an improved method

“…Bocquet-Appel (2002) using cemetery age distributions, Zimmermann et al (2004) using site spatial distributions, and Hinz et al (2012) using summed radiocarbon probabilities), archaeologists, in Europe at least, have been strikingly reluctant to make demographic inferences from such data, and are generally keener to emphasise the pitfalls than the possibilities. When Rick (1987) proposed using summed date distributions as data for the purpose of reconstructing spatial-temporal variation in coastalhighland settlement practices during the Peruvian preceramic period, an important new weapon was added to the archaeologist's armoury.…”

From revolution to convention: the past, present and future of radiocarbon dating

“…In particular, the practice of summing calibrated radiocarbon dates to create cumulative probability functions (CPFs) to examine demographic change over time is widespread (e.g. Buchanan et al, 2008;Hinz et al, 2012;Armit et al, 2013;Shennan et al, 2013;Williams, 2013), despite extensive criticism (Bayliss et al, 2007a;Culleton, 2008;Chiverrell et al, 2011;Bamforth and Grund, 2012;Contreras and Meadows, 2014). This approach rests on the assumption that radiocarbon dates are proportionally related to population size, from the generation of suitable material for dating, to input into the archaeological record, preservation and radiocarbon analysis.…”