The Development of a Legacy: Evolution, Biogeography, and Archaeological Landscapes

J. B. BELARDI; R. BARBERENA; R. GOÑI; A. RE

Darwin's Legacy: The Status of Evolutionary Archaeology in Argentina

Archaeopress

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2016; p. 83 - 94

In the last chapters of Charles Darwin?s work (1859), ?On the Origins of Species by means of natural selection or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life?, there are concepts of main importance for the work that we pursue here. Thus, Darwin?s main legacy was clearly established: the relationship between time, space and change based on natural selection. One hundred and fifty years later it is possible to see a close relationship between concepts derived from evolutionary theory, the development of an archaeology that is defined by the study of wide spaces and the consideration of the analytical potential offered by the study of temporal trajectories as revealed in the archaeological record. Our goal in this paper is to introduce a brief archeological discussion in a biogeographical frame exploring the relationship between some models derived from evolutionary theory. We are particularly seeking to contemplate cultural transmission as a part of niche construction theory, allowing relating spatial and temporal trajectories of human behaviour. Firstly we introduce the theoretical concepts that guide our work, focusing on the relationship between evolution and biogeography, archaeological landscapes and cultural transmission. Secondly, these relations are illustrated through the development of two case studies from Patagonia, which focus on the distribution of rock-art motifs and may be evaluated and discussed in the light of these concepts.