Modeling Human Ecodynamics and Biocultural Interactions in the Late Pleistocene of Western Eurasia

Abstract

Given the complex and multidimensional nature of human evolution, we need to develop theoretical and methodological frameworks to account for and model the dynamic feedbacks between co-operational biological and cultural evolutionary systems to better understand the processes that produced modern human behavior. Equally important is the generation of explicit theory-based models that can be tested against the empirical paleoanthropological record. We present a case study that examines evidence for culturally-driven behavioral change among Late Pleistocene hominins that altered the social niche occupied by hominins in western Eurasia, with consequences for

In glacial environments beyond glacial terrains: Human eco-dynamics in late Pleistocene Mediterranean Iberia

“…In numerous studies of European Paleolithic assemblages, retouch frequency has been shown to be a robust proxy for land-use strategy (Barton, 1998;Kuhn, 2004;RielSalvatore andBarton, 2004, 2007;Sandgathe, 2006;Clark, 2008;Riel-Salvatore et al, 2008;Barton et al, 2011). It most directly responds to residence time and individual versus place provisioning (sensu Kuhn, 1992), which in turn, have been associated with variation between residential and logistical mobility and foraging patterns (Binford, 1980;Kelly, 1992Kelly, , 1995Grove, 2009).…”

“…We use retouch frequency, indicating the importance of curation of lithic utility through reuse and resharpening, as a proxy index for these land-use strategies (Barton, 1998;Riel-Salvatore and Barton, 2004;Riel-Salvatore et al, 2008;Barton et al, 2011). A key test of the relationship between lithic artifact curation and land-use strategies is a strong negative correlation between retouch frequencies and total artifact density per unit volume of sediment for assemblages accumulating in stratified deposits (Riel-Salvatore and Barton, , 2007Riel-Salvatore et al, 2008).…”

“…Lower elevation sitesdbut not coastal sitesdare increasingly dominated by higher mobility, shorter residence times, and individual provisioning. It should be noted that overall land-use strategies for the Upper Paleolithic of this region are likely to be dominated by logistical organization (Barton et al, 2011;Barton and Riel-Salvatore, 2012) Hence, localities with short-term occupation are likely to be targeted resource foray camps rather than evidence for general residential mobility strategies.…”

Archaeology as a social science

“…Archaeologists (and their colleagues) are increasingly using methods such as agent-based modeling and network analysis to analyze ancient settlement systems, from early hunter-gatherers to urbanized states (41)(42)(43). These two approaches frequently overlap within individual research projects.…”

Simulation as an Approach to Social-Ecological Integration, with an Emphasis on Agent-Based Modeling

“…Biological examples include Boone et al ( 2006 ) and Boone ( 2010 ). Human evolutionary examples are given in Barton et al ( 2011 ) and Barton and Riel-Salvatore ( 2012 ).…”