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Tasmanian Knowledge and Skill: Maladaptive Imitation or Adequate Technology?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Dwight Read
Dwight Read*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 ([email protected])
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Abstract

A recent article has suggested that maintenance of complex tools and associated tasks in a group depends on the presence of skilled individuals to serve as targets for imitation. The expected number of skilled target individuals, it is argued, relates to the population size. It is predicted that population size and maximum complexity of tools and/or tasks should correlate, hence a decrease in population size could lead to maladaptive loss of skills. Data from Tasmania are said to support the argument. However, the argument neither agrees with the archaeological data from Tasmania nor ethnographic observations on hunter-gatherer societies. Instead of being an example of a group that underwent maladaptive loss, the indigenous people of Tasmania appear to have used tools sufficient for the tasks at hand. An alternative model is proposed that distinguishes between motor skills and knowledge needed to do tasks effectively and takes into account assessment of the time cost for developing skills. Loss of skills more likely relates to change in the mode of resource procurement or change in technology rather than a shortage of skilled, target individuals due to decrease in population size.

Résumé

Résumé

Un artículo reciente ha sugerido que el mantenimiento de herramientas complejas y tareas asociadas en un grupo depende de la presencia de individuos expertos quienes sirven como ejemplos para emulación. El número previsto de los individuos expertos, se discute, se relaciona con el tamaño de la población. Se predice que el tamaño de la población y la complejidad de herramientas y/o tareas deben correlacionar, por lo tanto una disminución en tamaño de la población podría resultar en la pérdida mal-adaptante de habilidades. Los datos de Tasmania se citan para apoyar la discusión. Sin embargo, la discusión ni conviene con los datos arqueológicos de Tasmania, ni las observaciones etnogríficas en sociedades de cazadores-recolectores. En vez de ser un ejemplo de un grupo que experimentó pérdida mal-adaptante, la gente indígena de Tasmania aparece haber utilizado las herramientas suficientes para sus tareas actuales. Se propone un modelo alternativo cual distingue entre las habilidades de motor y el conocimiento necesario para hacer tareas con eficacia, y evalúa el tiempo que costaría para aprender nuevas habilidades. La pérdida de habilidades se relaciona más probablemente con cambios en el modo de la conseguir recursos o cambios en tecnología, más bien que una escasez de individuos experto debido a la disminución de población.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 164 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2006

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