The Evolution of the Diversity of Cultures

Foley, R. A.; Lahr, Marta Mirazón

doi:10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199608966.003.0015

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The reasons for, and therefore implications of, the geographic and temporal structuring of MSA cultural diversity are still poorly characterized and likely reflect several processes. These include adaptations to different environments [43]. Long-term, large-scale population separation may also have been the norm for much of Pleistocene Africa (Box 1; i.e., isolation by distance and isolation by habitat, representing null models to be rejected).…”

Section: A Pan-african Cultural Patchworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did our species evolve in subdivided populations across Africa, and Why does it matter?

Scerri¹,

Thomas²,

Manica³

et al. 2019

ESPE

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We challenge the view that our species, Homo sapiens, evolved within a single population and/or region of Africa. The chronology and physical diversity of Pleistocene human fossils suggest that morphologically varied populations pertaining to the H. sapiens clade lived throughout Africa. Similarly, the African archaeological record demonstrates the polycentric origin and persistence of regionally distinct Pleistocene material culture in a variety of paleoecological settings. Genetic studies also indicate that present-day population structure within Africa extends to deep times, paralleling a paleoenvironmental record of shifting and fractured habitable zones. We argue that these fields support an emerging view of a highly structured African prehistory that should be considered in human evolutionary inferences, prompting new interpretations, questions, and interdisciplinary research directions.The lineage of Homo sapiens probably originated in Africa at least 500 thousand years ago (ka) [1], and the earliest observed morphological manifestations of this clade appeared by 300 ka [2]. Early H. sapiens fossils do not demonstrate a simple linear progression towards contemporary human morphology. Instead, putative early H. sapiens remains exhibit remarkable morphological diversity and geographical spread. Together with recent archaeological and genetic lines of evidence, these data are consistent with the view that our species originated and diversified within strongly subdivided (i.e., structured) populations, probably living across Africa, that were connected by sporadic gene flow [1,3-8]. This concept of 'African multiregionalism' [1] may also include hybridization between H. sapiens and more divergent hominins (see Glossary) living in different regions [1,[9][10][11][12]. Crucially, such population subdivisions may have been shaped and sustained by shifts in ecological boundaries [7,13,14], challenging the view that our species was endemic to a single region or habitat, and implying an often underacknowledged complexity to our African origins.In this paper we examine and synthesize fossil, archaeological, genetic, and paleoenvironmental data to refine our understanding of the time-depth, character, and maintenance of Pleistocene population structure. In doing so, we attempt to separate data from inference to stress that using models of population structure fundamentally changes interpretations of recent human evolution. HighlightsThe view that Homo sapiens evolved from a single region/population within Africa has been given primacy in studies of human evolution.The constellation of morphological features characterizing H. sapiens is debated. This has strongly impacted on interpretations of recent human origins by variably including or excluding different fossils from interpretative analyses. For example, different morphological criteria and analytical methods have been used to support both a gradual, mosaic-like process of modernization of our species or, conversely, a punctuated speciation (e.g., [1]).Extant human...

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Section: A Pan-african Cultural Patchworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did our species evolve in subdivided populations across Africa, and Why does it matter?

Scerri¹,

Thomas²,

Manica³

et al. 2019

ESPE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This is relevant, since we have evidence that genetic diversity fosters diversity in culture and social activities (Premo & Hublin, 2009). Furthermore, we have evidence that the further away humans migrated from East Africa, the more diverse cultures, in the form of social norms and social structure, were created as a function of resource distribution (Foley & Lahr, 2011). Therefore, we also control the effect of migratory distance from East Africa on SC in the regressions.…”

Section: Independent Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The central idea is that certain exogenous geographic features, such as variations in land quality and elevation, are responsible for the formation of ethno-linguistic diversity around the globe. With homogeneous elevation and land qualities, the formation of a single ethnic identity 8 It is unlikely that SC and ethno-linguistic diversity are linked to the exodus of Homo sapiens to the same extent, since the diversity of human cultures (communities and populations, and thus likely SC in its early forms) has evolved largely as a function of the distribution of natural resources (Foley & Lahr, 2011), whereas ethno-linguistic diversity has evolved non-linearly and with migration patterns back from Europe and the Arab region into Africa (Campbell & Tishkoff, 2008). 9 For example, Galli and M€ uller-Stewens (2012) explore from a strategic management perspective how leadership development practices may contribute to SC development.…”

Section: Independent Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Ethno‐Linguistic Diversity Explain Cross‐Country Differences in Social Capital?: A Global Perspective

Wang

Steiner

2015

Economic Record

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Motivated by the inconclusiveness of empirical studies on the relationship between ethno-linguistic diversity and social capital (SC) at various levels of regional aggregation, this paper provides new evidence on the relationship between the two variables at a global scale. A cross-sectional analysis of 68 developed and developing countries applying two-stage least squares estimations suggests not only that the cognitive dimension of SC (shared codes and languages) is highly important for SC formation across regional origin, but also that countries with a greater degree of linguistic fractionalisation have a lower SC stock. In particular, countries with fractionalized ethnic and linguistic groups, as captured by number of languages and measures of linguistic diversity, tend to have lower levels of social trust, fewer memberships in social organisations, and deteriorated social norms and structures. The negative ethnic fractionalisation effect on SC is also found weaker in higher-income and in non-African countries.

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“…Humans are the only species whose social organisation is structured around symbolically marked cultural (ethnic) groups, where members tend to share norms, expectations, skills and beliefs (e.g. Richerson & Boyd, 2001; Foley and Lahr, 2011). Given that ethnic groups require common codes of communication, researchers have proposed that linguistic variation has played a primary role throughout our evolutionary trajectory in creating, preserving and indexing such variation between human populations (Atkinson et al, 2008; Moya & Henrich, 2016; Cohen, 2012; Dunbar, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%