Population size predicts technological complexity in oceania

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences • Vol/Iss. 277(1693) • The Royal Society • • Published In • Pages: 2559-2564 •
By Kline, Michelle A., Boyd, Robert

Abstract

The capacity for cumulative cultural evolution has often been invoked to explain the great diversity of habitats occupied by humans. This theory of cultural evolution emphasizes the gradual accumulation of technologies and cultural practices over many generations, and predicts that larger populations will generate more complex cultural adaptations than smaller, isolated ones. Here, the authors investigate the marine foraging tool repertoires of 10 Oceanic societies to determine whether population size and intergroup contact affect the cultural processes by which tool kits evolve.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearcher's OwnSample comprised 10 oceanic cultures
Other (Oswalt, 1976)MixedRevised data-set was examined to assess coding robustness. These changes did not significantly alter main results.

Hypotheses (3)

HypothesisSupported
Tool repertoire size will be larger in large populations than in small populations (2561).Supported
Contact will have a stronger effect on the tool repertoires of small populations than large populations (2561).Marginal Support
Average tool complexity will be higher in larger populations than in smaller populations (2561).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: erik.ringen