Houkes, Wybo (2010) Tales of Tools and Trees: Phylogenetic analysis and explanation in evolutionary archaeology. In: UNSPECIFIED.

Preview

PDF TalesToolsTrees__Houkes_EPSA2.pdf Download (203kB)

Abstract

In this paper, I study the application of phylogenetic analysis in evolutionary archaeology. I show how transfer of this apparently general analytic tool is affected by salient differences in disciplinary context. One is that archaeologists, unlike many biologists, do not regard cladistics as a tool for classification, but are primarily interested in explanation. The other is that explanation is traditionally sought in terms of individual-level rather than population-level mechanisms. The latter disciplinary difference creates an ambiguity in the application and interpretation of phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, I argue that, while archaeologists have claimed that “cladistics is useful for reconstructing artefact phylogenies” (O’Brien et al. 2001), these reconstructions only contribute minimally to the explanatory research agenda of evolutionary archaeology.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Houkes, Wybo
Keywords:	Phylogenetic analysis Evolutionary archaeology Technology
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Anthropology Specific Sciences > Archaeology Specific Sciences > Biology > Systematics General Issues > Technology
Depositing User:	Wybo Houkes
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2010
Last Modified:	25 May 2019 17:22
Item ID:	5212
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Anthropology Specific Sciences > Archaeology Specific Sciences > Biology > Systematics General Issues > Technology
Date:	2010
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5212

Available Versions of this Item

• Tales of Tools and Trees: Phylogenetic analysis and explanation in evolutionary archaeology. (deposited 26 Mar 2010) [Currently Displayed]
  • Tales of Tools and Trees: Phylogenetic analysis and explanation in evolutionary archaeology. (deposited 01 Apr 2010)

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item