GENETIC VERSES CULTURAL EVOLUTION

Mousterian tools Jonzac, France

Comparison

GENETIC CULTURAL

The product of natural selection

The product of learning. the transmission of acquired behaviour characteristics

Darwinian Lamarkian

Innate not modified during the organism’s life time

Learned during the life time

Passed on through hereditary information

Passed on to kin (family), social group, population, within a generation and between generations

Slow change Fast change

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The relative importance of genetic and cultural evolution for humans

Not limited to humans examples found amongst birds and non-human primates

Genetic evolution determines features such as basic anatomy e.g. maximum cranial capacity that in turn will determine “intelligence”

This sets the possible scope of cultural evolution

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Hominid cultures are associated with particular tools

Homo habilis Oldowan culture

Simple choppers, scrapers and flakes

Homo erectusAcheulian culture

Hand axes, cleaver and pick added to the tool box

Homo neanderthalensis Mousterian culture

Large flakes of uniform size produced from a core; these were then trimmed to the desired tool

Homo sapiens Soultrian culture

Delicate blades formed, knives, burins (for drilling); other materials added (bone, antler, and ivory). Some tools now ceremonial

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

This implies genetic evolution had to precede cultural evolution

Development of cultural innovation sometimes occurs a long time after the species evolves genetically

But when it happens it spreads quickly

Observed evolution of cultures

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Example

Homo sapiens evolved a large cranial capacity and modern brain structure 150 000 years ago

Signs of symbolic thought processes in sculpture, wall paintings and adornments do not appear until 35 000 years ago

A fundamental change is thought to have occurred about 60 to 70 000 years ago

But is this an artefact of preservation?

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS