A macroevolutionary analysis of European Late Upper Palaeolithic stone tool shape using a Bayesian phylodynamic...

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Archaeology
• Palaeobiology
• Cultural Macroevolution

Background:

• Phylogenetic models are crucial for studying organismal evolution and have been applied to human sciences using linguistic and cultural data.
• Evolutionary archaeology predominantly uses parsimony-based phylogenetic analyses with discrete traits, limiting downstream applications.
• Recent advances in Bayesian phylogenetics enable inference of evolutionary dynamics using continuous characters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an exploratory analysis of cultural macroevolution using projectile point shape in the European Final Palaeolithic and earliest Mesolithic.
• To apply a Bayesian phylodynamic approach and the fossilized birth-death process model to archaeological data.
• To demonstrate a methodological breakthrough by extending Bayesian phylodynamic models to archaeology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Bayesian phylodynamic approach, incorporating the fossilized birth-death process model.
• Analyzed continuous character data (projectile point shape) from the European Final Palaeolithic and earliest Mesolithic (approx. 15,000–11,000 BP).
• Inferred evolutionary dynamics, including divergence times and diversification rates, while accounting for uncertainties.

Main Results:

• Generated a cultural phylogeny for projectile point evolution.
• Estimated divergence times and diversification rates, allowing comparison with climatic changes.
• Demonstrated the capability of the model to incorporate uncertainties in phylogenetic inference.

Conclusions:

• The Bayesian phylodynamic approach offers a significant advancement over traditional parsimony methods in evolutionary archaeology.
• This methodology allows for a more comprehensive understanding of cultural macroevolutionary processes.
• The study highlights the potential of extending sophisticated phylogenetic models to archaeological research.