How the Neolithic Revolution Has Unfolded: Invention and Adoption or Change and Adaptation? Addressing the Diffusion Controversy about Initial Domestication

Serge Svizzero ()
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Serge Svizzero: CEMOI - Centre d'Économie et de Management de l'Océan Indien - UR - Université de La Réunion

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Abstract: It is widely agreed that initial domestication of plants and animals can be considered as the major innovation underlying the Neolithic revolution. There is however a controversy about how it has unfolded. One view supports it was an invention with subsequent adoption, and stresses the role of human intention in a rapid transition, geographically focused. The other view contends it was change and subsequent adaptation, and highlights the role of chance and co-evolution in a protracted and spatially diffused process. Thanks to recent developments of archaeobotany and archaeozoology, we evaluate both views and conclude that the latter is more relevant.

Keywords: domestication; origins of agriculture; Neolithic revolution; innovation; diffusion controversy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-11-29
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo
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