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Hominin cognition: The null hypothesis.
1Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK duncan.stibbard-hawkes@durham.ac.uk.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|January 14, 2025
Summary
Modern human groups leave minimal material evidence, challenging the use of artifacts to gauge ancient cognition. Reconsidering assumptions about past material culture and cognition is crucial for accurate interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleoanthropology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The interpretation of past human cognition often relies on material culture.
- Contemporary hunter-gatherer groups provide insights into potential archaeological records.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of material culture as an indicator of cognitive abilities in the deep past.
- To address critiques regarding the interpretation of archaeological evidence and cognitive inference.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of material culture datasets from three contemporary African forager groups.
- Synthesizing responses to critiques concerning reasoning from absence, null hypotheses, and ethnographic data.
Main Results:
- Modern foragers leave scant material evidence of symbolic behavior or complexity.
- Critiques raised concerns about reasoning from absence, the "cognitively modern" null, and the role of ethnography.
Conclusions:
- Material culture may be an unreliable barometer for deep past human cognition.
- Shifting null assumptions and reconsidering inferential links between material culture and cognition are necessary.
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