Boundary Conditions for Paleolithic Social Systems: A Simulation Approach
Abstract
Pleistocene societies are viewed in this paper as manifestations of band society from which Paleolithic archaeologists can generate hypotheses about this cultural system and against which they can evaluate the validity of general cultural explanations. A general model is posited toward the isolation of Paleolithic societies in the archaeological record. Their numerical size is predicted from Monte Carlo simulations of model populations, and ways are discussed in which distinguishable equilibrium states of such societies can be predicted in time and space. Under the assumption of maximal constraints, simulations are used to predict the size and longevity of social units. The frequency of settlements produced during an equilibrium state of a society is simulated and the utility of survey for activity areas outside the settlements is demonstrated. The models developed in this paper are intended to stimulate deductive research in Paleolithic archaeology.
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Twenty-five has successfully been applied previously to Palaeolithic hunting and gathering groups.
“twenty-five has successfully been applied previously to Palaeolithic hunting and gathering groups555657.”
From Assessing the calorific significance of episodes of human cannibalism in the Palaeolithic (2017) · cites this paper as [56]
Twenty-five is recognised as being the most desirable group size for mobile foraging populations in terms of reproductive viability and general adaptive significance to hunting and gathering societies.
“twenty-five is recognised as being the most desirable group size for mobile foraging populations in terms of reproductive viability and general adaptive significance to hunting and gathering societies545556.”
From Assessing the calorific significance of episodes of human cannibalism in the Palaeolithic (2017) · cites this paper as [56]
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- Authors
- Wobst, H. M.
- Corresponding author
- Wobst, H. Martin
- Venue
- American Antiquity
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1974-04
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2Part1
- Pages
- 147-178
- ISSN
- 0002-7316 (ISSN-L)
- 2325-5064
- OpenAlex
- W2330955097
- Cited by
- 401
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 32.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Antiquity (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
- Keywords
- Monte Carlo simulation, population size, archaeological record, equilibrium states
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