Behavioral ecology and the future of archaeological science

Update Item Information
Publication Type pre-print
School or College College of Social & Behavioral Science
Department Anthropology
Creator Codding, Brian
Other Author Bird, Douglas W.
Title Behavioral ecology and the future of archaeological science
Date 2015-01-01
Description The future of archaeological science relies as much (if not more) on theoretical as on methodological developments. As with anything in biology, explaining past human behavior will require the application of evolutionary theory. As with anything in archaeology, theory is useless without clear ties to a material record. Human behavioral ecology (HBE) has become one of the central theoretical frameworks in archaeological science by providing a broad conceptual toolkit for linking principles of natural selection to operational hypotheses about variability in behavior and its material consequences. Here we review the general approach and outline cases where applying HBE models can contribute to key research issues in archaeology. These examples illustrate how foundational applications of HBE are being built upon to explain complex and diverse phenomena ranging from the origins of agriculture to the emergence of institutionalized inequality. With each case, we outline avenues where this research strategy can advance archaeological science into the future.
Type Text
Publisher Elsevier
Volume 56
First Page 9
Last Page 20
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Codding, B. F., & Bird, D. W. (2015). Behavioral ecology and the future of archaeological science. Journal of Archaeological Science, 56, 9-20.
Rights Management (c) Elsevier ; Authors manuscript from Codding, B. F., & Bird, D. W. (2015). Behavioral ecology and the future of archaeological science. Journal of Archaeological Science, 56, 9-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2015.02.027.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,169,465 bytes
Identifier uspace,19428
ARK ark:/87278/s6rr57d3
Setname ir_uspace
ID 713340
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6rr57d3
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