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UT AST 309L - Cultural Evolution

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Cultural EvolutionNext Factor in Drake Equation: fc• fc: fraction of planets with intelligent life thatdevelop a technological phase, during whichthere is a capability for and interest ininterstellar communication• No significant biological evolution in last40,000 to 200,000 years (maybe 5000 yr)• Evolutionary Takeover– Cultural evolution instead of biological– Much shorter timescaleWhat is Cultural Evolution?• No longer changes in genes (biological)• Extra-somatic information– Information stored outside the body• Changes in knowledge of group– Passed on by learning from others• Allows combination of “lessons learned” frommany individualsExample• Culture in primates other than humans?– Differences in behavior of groups• Example: Orangutans in Kluet swamp in Sumatra– Make and use tools (bark-stripped twigs) to gethoney and seeds from fruit– Genetically similar group across Alas river do not– River too wide to cross– Key feature is high density: observe each other’sbehavior and learnVan Schaik, Sci. Am. April 2006Concepts1. Timescales2. Origin of agriculture3. Extra-somatic information storage4. Tools, technology5. Interactions: written language, cities, taxes,classes, technology6. Interest in communication7. World view evolution8. Coupling between technology and world viewTimescales• On next slide (which we will look at in moredetail later) notice the timescales• MUCH shorter than the previous kinds ofevolution• And accelerating!Cooperative hunting?Traditions and LoreSumeria (record keeping)Business, TaxesChinaEuropeItalyFirst “strong” broadcast400,000? 30,000?~ 8500 BCE~ 3000 BCE~ 10014561895~ 1936~ 1950’s~ 1990’sOral languageOral historiansClay tokensClay tabletsPaperPrinting pressRadioTelevisionComputersWorld-wide-webImportance of farming• The rise of civilizations all based on farming• Understand origins of agriculture• How likely to arise?• Did it arise independently more than once?Origin of Agriculture10,000 years ago within 50-100 miles of Dead SeaNatufian culture - well built houses & signs of rankHarvested wild wheat, barley - used flint sickles,Stone mortars, and huntedClimate becomes hotter, drierOvercrowding, shortages led to need for food sourcefavors annuals over perennials (shorter cycle)larger seeds in husks - easier to collectSave, plant, harvestEvidence: seeds in settlements of Natufians successorsMutant: fatter, adheres to husk better⇒ domestication, selection without forethought leads to rapid evolution of wheat and hunting decreases rapidlyDomestication (and farmers?) spread northwardat ~ 1 km/yearHole & McCorriston American Anthropology~ April 1991Agriculture leads to higher level political organizationJ. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and SteelJ. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and SteelInformationGenes 1010 bits (or less)Brains 1014 bits 1400 cm3 in humans ⇓Extra-somatic information leads to communication: information passedbetween individuals.Allows societies to evolve.Cooperative hunting?Traditions and LoreSumeria (record keeping)Business, TaxesChinaEuropeItalyFirst “strong” broadcast400,000? 30,000?~ 8500 BCE~ 3000 BCE~ 10014561895~ 1936~ 1950’s~ 1990’sOral languageOral historiansClay tokensClay tabletsPaperPrinting pressRadioTelevisionComputersWorld-wide-webInformation and Intelligence• Can we think of extra-somatic information asintelligence?• Collective “intelligence” of the species• But cannot be assimilated by any individual• Collective knowledge does lead to ability toengage in interstellar communicationWritten Language• Played key role in expanding knowledge• Could be stored outside any person’s body• Developed first in Sumeria– Clay tokens to keep accounting– Clay tablets• Spring 2006 exhibit at Harry Ransom Center– http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/current/2006/writing/Tools and TechnologyStoneOldowan 2.4 Myr H. habilis Acheulian 1.6 Myr H. erectusMousterian 200,000 yr NeanderthalsPaleolithic 90,000 yr H.sapiens (Africa)Paleolithic 40,000 yr H.sapiens (Europe)Pottery 7,000 BCEWheel 6,500 BCE SumeriaOldowan Tools• OLDOWAN TOOLS(left to right): endchopper, heavy-dutyscraper, spheroidhammer stone(Olduvai Gorge); flakechopper (Gadeb);bone point, horn coretool or digger(Swartkrans).From http://www.handprint.com/LS/ANC/stones.htmlAcheulian• ACHEULEAN TOOLS(left to right): cleaverstone (Bihorei oest,France); lanceolatehand ax (Briqueterie,France); large hand ax(Olduvai Gorge).Mousterian• MOUSTERIAN TOOLS(left to right): cutteror point, Levalloiscore and point,Aterian point withbase tang, double-sided scraper (varioussites in France).Upper Paleolithic• UPPER PALEOLITHICTOOLS (left to right):biconical bone point,Perigordian flint blade,prismatic blade core,Soluterean Willow leafpoint, double-rowbarbed harpoon point(various sites inFrance).Tools and TechnologyMetalCopper Tools 4,000 BCEBronze Tools 2,800 BCEIron Tools 1,500 BCEIndustrial RevolutionMass ProductionSiliconTransistor 1948 U.S.Microchip 1959Internet 1990’sMetal ToolsBronzeIronCopperThe Importance of Iron• Iron played crucial role because of strength• But late because it requires very hightemperatures to ‘reduce’ to elemental state– And addition of carbon to make an alloy• In 1800 BCE, 40 ounces of silver to buy oneounce of iron!• By 600 BCE, one ounce of silver bought 2000ounces of ironFrom The Substance of Civilization by Stephen SassUniqueness1. AgricultureAt least 5 (and maybe 9) independent originsSouthwest Asia, China, Mesoamerica, Andes,Eastern U.S.2. Written language2-4 independent originsSumer, Mesoamerica, China(?), Egypt (??)Only after farmingFrom Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared DiamondFrom Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared DiamondUniqueness3. Centralized states, specializationSeveral independent originsOnly after farming4. Metal useNear EastNew World (Andes) mostly decorative5. Industrial Revolution, modern electronics(no test possible - all world in contact)GermsDomination of Other CulturesWeaponsResistanceQuestionsHow does cultural evolution differ frombiological evolution?Does “natural selection” operate in culturalevolution?If so, is technology an “advantageous trait”?Is “cultural evolution” a valid description


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UT AST 309L - Cultural Evolution

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