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  Cultural Evolution?Cultural evolution is another way of saying that cultures change (evolve) over time in response to influences from the natural and cultural environments. No culture is static or remains unchanged. When archaeologists use the term cultural evolution, they are referring to the fact that cultures are dynamic and are shaped and modified by individuals, other groups, and the natural world. It is important to remember that there is no best or model culture. All cultures are equally valid to the individuals living in them. All cultures have strengths and weaknesses, and some traditions and ways of life are more enduring than others. Remember that cultures make sense to the people that live them; your culture seems natural and normal to you, though it may seem foreign or strange to someone outside of your group. Tracking Cultural Evolution Archaeologists are interested in tracing how cultures change or evolve over time. While cultural evolution is usually a gradual process, archaeologists are able to look at the evidence left behind from daily life to identify the defining characteristics of particular cultures. Archaeologists are also able to trace the evolution or linkages of early cultures to later cultures by looking for evidence of shared or persistent cultural traditions and practices. These scientists strive to understand and explain the patterns that exist among cultures from very different times and places. Such patterns help reveal why and how cultures change in response to environmental and social variables. Evaluating Cultural Evolution When studying cultural evolution, archaeologists often use classification or organizational systems as ways of comparing similar cultures. In the past, some of these classifications contained negative terminology reflecting the outdated belief that cultural evolution follows a linear path of progress. Terms such as “primitive” and “civilized” have been abandoned because they imply a ranking system that favors Western cultures and is factually incorrect and offensive. Today, terms such a “simple,” “complex,” and “advanced” are generally used only in reference to economic or political systems and do not indicate the comparative success of a culture. In other words, “simple” cultures can be complex in many other aspects, and do not need to become “complex,” as anthropologists use the term, to survive. Indeed, as archaeological evidence proves, relatively “simple” societies may be highly successful, while relatively “complex” cultures may be fragile and susceptible to instability. Continue to About the Americas. >> |
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