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National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 16(113), 2016

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520288113

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Population size does not explain past changes in cultural complexity

Journal article published in 2016 by Krist Vaesen ORCID, Mark Collard, Richard Cosgrove, Wil Roebroeks
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Significance Archaeologists have long tried to understand why cultural complexity often changed in prehistory. Recently, a series of highly influential formal models have suggested that demography is the key factor. According to these models, the size of a population determines its ability to invent and maintain cultural traits. In this paper, we demonstrate that the models in question are flawed in two important respects: They use questionable assumptions, and their predictions are not supported by the available archaeological and ethnographic evidence. As a consequence, little confidence can be invested in the idea that demography explains the changes in cultural complexity that have been identified by archaeologists. An alternative explanation is required.