Kristina M. Gill, Mikael Fauvelle, and Jon M. Erlandson (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- September 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780813056166
- eISBN:
- 9780813053936
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813056166.001.0001
- Subject:
- Archaeology, Historical Archaeology
An Archaeology of Abundance focuses on the archaeology and historical ecology of a series of islands located off the Pacific Coast of Alta and Baja California, from the Channel Islands to Cedros ...
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An Archaeology of Abundance focuses on the archaeology and historical ecology of a series of islands located off the Pacific Coast of Alta and Baja California, from the Channel Islands to Cedros Island. Compared to the adjacent mainland, these islands have long been considered marginal habitats for ancient hunter-gatherers, beginning with accounts of early Spanish explorers and by later naturalists, scientists, and government agents, as well as the anthropologists and archaeologists who followed. This perception of marginality has greatly influenced our interpretation of a variety of archaeological issues including the antiquity of first settlement; the productivity of island floras, freshwater, and mineral resources; human population density; and the nature of regional exchange, wealth, and power networks. Recent advances in archaeological and historical ecological research, combined with field observations of recovering ecosystems suggest that the California Islands may not have been the marginal habitats they once appeared to be. Severe overgrazing and overfishing during historic times heavily impacted local ecosystems, which are now recovering under modern management, conservation, and restoration practices. While older models developed through the perspective of island marginality may hold true for certain resources or islands, it is important to reconsider our interpretations of past and present archaeological data, and reevaluate long-held assumptions, given these new insights. Ultimately, a reexamination of the effects of perceived marginality on the history of archaeological interpretations on California's islands may have broad implications for other island archipelagos worldwide.Less
An Archaeology of Abundance focuses on the archaeology and historical ecology of a series of islands located off the Pacific Coast of Alta and Baja California, from the Channel Islands to Cedros Island. Compared to the adjacent mainland, these islands have long been considered marginal habitats for ancient hunter-gatherers, beginning with accounts of early Spanish explorers and by later naturalists, scientists, and government agents, as well as the anthropologists and archaeologists who followed. This perception of marginality has greatly influenced our interpretation of a variety of archaeological issues including the antiquity of first settlement; the productivity of island floras, freshwater, and mineral resources; human population density; and the nature of regional exchange, wealth, and power networks. Recent advances in archaeological and historical ecological research, combined with field observations of recovering ecosystems suggest that the California Islands may not have been the marginal habitats they once appeared to be. Severe overgrazing and overfishing during historic times heavily impacted local ecosystems, which are now recovering under modern management, conservation, and restoration practices. While older models developed through the perspective of island marginality may hold true for certain resources or islands, it is important to reconsider our interpretations of past and present archaeological data, and reevaluate long-held assumptions, given these new insights. Ultimately, a reexamination of the effects of perceived marginality on the history of archaeological interpretations on California's islands may have broad implications for other island archipelagos worldwide.
Jan-Willem van Prooijen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190609979
- eISBN:
- 9780190610005
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190609979.003.0004
- Subject:
- Psychology, Social Psychology
Third-party punishment occurs among insect species, cleaner fish, and non-human primates. This suggests that organisms do not need a sophisticated sense of morality to be punitive. Why, then, did ...
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Third-party punishment occurs among insect species, cleaner fish, and non-human primates. This suggests that organisms do not need a sophisticated sense of morality to be punitive. Why, then, did humans evolve a moral punishment instinct? The main proposition of this chapter is that people evolved a sense of morality as a consequence of their punishment instincts. In ancestral groups of hunter-gatherers, punishment had genetic consequences, as it frequently meant death, exclusion, or unattractively low social standing. Punishment therefore has put social selection pressures on our ancestors to evolve intrinsic motivations to pursue the interests of the group. Furthermore, whereas punishment is frequently portrayed as costly, the chapter illuminates that punishers also reap important benefits: punishment can be a form of costly signaling, emphasizing punishers’ power, making them attractive mates.Less
Third-party punishment occurs among insect species, cleaner fish, and non-human primates. This suggests that organisms do not need a sophisticated sense of morality to be punitive. Why, then, did humans evolve a moral punishment instinct? The main proposition of this chapter is that people evolved a sense of morality as a consequence of their punishment instincts. In ancestral groups of hunter-gatherers, punishment had genetic consequences, as it frequently meant death, exclusion, or unattractively low social standing. Punishment therefore has put social selection pressures on our ancestors to evolve intrinsic motivations to pursue the interests of the group. Furthermore, whereas punishment is frequently portrayed as costly, the chapter illuminates that punishers also reap important benefits: punishment can be a form of costly signaling, emphasizing punishers’ power, making them attractive mates.
