BOUNDARIES BETWEEN ANCIENT CULTURES: ORIGINS AND PERSISTENCE

Morrel H. Cohen () and Graeme J. Ackland ()
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Morrel H. Cohen: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway NJ 08854, USA;
Graeme J. Ackland: School of Physics, SUPA, The University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom

Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), 2012, vol. 15, issue 01n02, 1-30

Abstract: In a recent work on the wave of advance of a beneficial technology and associated hitchhiking of cultural and biological traits, we simulated the advance of neolithic agriculture into Europe. That model embraced geographical variation of land fertility and human mobility, conversion of indigenous mesolithic hunter-gatherers to agriculture, and competition between invading farmers and indigenous converts. A key result is a sharp cultural boundary across which the agriculturalists' heritage changes from that of the invading population to that of the converts. Here we present an analytical study of the cultural boundary for some simple cases. We show that the width of the boundary is determined by human mobility and the strength of competition. Simulations for the full model give essentially the same result. The finite width facilitates irreversible gene flow between the populations, so over time genetic differences appear as gradients while e.g. linguistic barriers may remain sharp. We also examine the various assumptions of the model relating to purposeful versus. random movement of peoples and the competition between cultures, demonstrating its richness and flexibility.

Keywords: Wave of advanced; Neolithic; culture; boundary; Neanderthal; agriculture; Indo-European; computer model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1142/S0219525911003220

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