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On Evolutionary Ecology, Selectionist Archaeology, and Behavioral Archaeology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jack M. Broughton  and
James F. O'Connell
Jack M. Broughton
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
James F. O'Connell
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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Abstract

To promote a dialogue between competing but potentially compatible approaches in American archaeology, Schiffer (1996) examined the relationships between two distinct research programs: "behavioral" archaeology and evolutionary archaeology. An approach grounded in evolutionary ecology was not included in that analysis. In this paper, we reply to Schiffer's call for dialogue by outlining the relationships, as we see them, between evolutionary ecology, selectionist archaeology, and behavioral archaeology. We conclude that evolutionary ecology holds the greatest promise as a scientific approach for the investigation of important problems in human behavioral evolution.

Résumé

Résumé

Intentando promover un diálogo entre dos acercamientos a la arquelogía americana—arquelogía conductual y arquelogía evolucionista—Schiffer (1996) investigó las relaciones entre estos dos programas de investigación uno en competencia del otro pero potencialmente mutuamente compatibles. No se incluyá en el análisis el acercamiento basado en la ecología evolucionista. Aquí respondemos al pedido para ese diálogo con un bosquejo—desde nuestro punto de vista—de las relaciones entre la ecología evolucionista, la arquelogía conductual, y la arquelogía seleccionista. Llegamos la conclusión de que la ecología evolucionista promete ser la más productiva en la investigación de problemas importantes de la evolución de la conducta human.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 64 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 153 - 165
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1999

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