Semes and genes in africa

Current Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 43(2) • University of Chicago Press • • Published In • Pages: 313-321 •
By Hewlett, Barry S., de Silvestri, Annalisa, Guglielmino, C. Rosalba

Abstract

Genetic, linguistic, and geographic data can be used to explain the distribution of cultural units ("semes") and to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of culture. Three broad models of cultural transmission attempt to explain why cultures share semes: (1) Cultural diffusion, emphasizing horizontal transmission. (2) Local adaptation, where trail-and-error learning leads to the independent adoption of semes by different peoples living in similar environments. (3) Demic diffusion, which emphasizes vertical and frequency-dependent transmission. Authors test the explanatory power of each model using cultural, genetic, linguistic and geographic data from 36 African cultures.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)Other researchersCultural data used to classify "semes"
A guide to the world's languages (Ruhlen, 1991)Other researchersLinguistic classification
Standford University Genetic DatabaseMixedGenetic grouping

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
The distribution of cultural units ("semes") can be explained using a demic-diffusion model of transmission (317). Supported
The distribution of cultural units ("semes") can be explained using a cultural diffusion model of transmission (317).Supported
The distribution of cultural units ("semes") can be explained using a local adaptation model of transmission (317).Supported
Cultures that share similar natural ecologies should be more culturally similar than those in different ecologies (317).Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: erik.ringen