Cognitive Archaeology and Human Evolution

by Sophie A. de Beaune (Editor), Frederick L. Coolidge (Editor), Thomas Wynn (Editor)

This book presents new directions in the study of cognitive archaeology. Seeking to understand the conditions that led to the development of a variety of cognitive processes during evolution, it uses evidence from empirical studies and offers theoretical speculations about the evolution of modern thinking as well. The volume draws from the fields of archaeology and neuropsychology, which traditionally have shared little in the way of theories and methods, even though both disciplines provide crucial pieces to the puzzle of the emergence and evolution of human cognition. The twelve essays, written by an international team of scholars, represent an eclectic array of interests, methods, and theories about evolutionary cognitive archaeology. Collectively, they consider whether the processes in the development of human cognition simply made a better use of anatomical and cerebral structures already in place at the beginning of hominization. They also consider the possibility of an active role of hominoids in their own development and query the impact of hominoid activity in the emergence of new cognitive abilities.

Genres: Archaeology, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I swear, I'm not reading any more collections of scholarly articles until I've checked to see whether any of the entries were translated from French. I'll assume, perhaps generously, that the original text in such cases is completely clear to French speakers, but the English renderings invariably force torturous new meanings onto common English words, avoid anything like a simple declarative sentence, and generally give a strong impression that the authors were paid by the line.* Proving my point, Ian Tattersall (a native English speaker) contributes an article argung that modern "executive functions" were a late development, span-of-prehistory-wise, and says so in terms that would be clear to any intelligent reader *ahem* while not talking down to his fellow specialists.

As for the rest, I was quite taken with the breakdown of such Paleolithic tasks as gathering food and creating tools into minutely detailed actions that reminded me of the instructions in Help for Your Fearful Dog: A Step-By-Step Guide to Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears, and the existence of cognigrams, visual "aids" showing the cognitive processes involved in these tasks, complete with thickets of arrows heading every which way and sometimes reversing direction entirely, like a Hapsburg family tree.

In summation, I clearly should have read a textbook like An Introduction to Evolutionary Cognitive Archaeology by Thomas Wynn and Frederick L. Coolidge (among the editors and contributors here) first.

*In my experience, Spanish takes up roughly one-third more space than the same text in English when typeset, but that's largely because of differences in grammar. With French, I'm convinced it's a belief that the more gassily you make a point, the more intellect you're displaying.

[Riversue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might be getting dated but the articles are extremely interesting - early cognitive archaeology

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book on the subject I've read and was a very good start, and overview of the field. Fascinating. Different chapters written by different authors/researchers, so different writing styles. Some more readable than others.

An academic book, but a relatively easy read. Some of the chapters on the chain of actions in making flint weapons, and the slices thereof, got a bit bogged down - cognigrams (diagrams of cognitive processes), chaînes opératoires and identification of handedness from the making of hand axes etc.

The book is honest about our lack of knowledge and sure facts in this field, but the science to try and learn how our ancestors processed information and activities is interesting insomuch as it correlates to academic ability, and therefore the evolution of cognition; for example first evidence of burial practices, art (items for decoration not just function), bartering and exchange, teaching/leaching and society. Fascinating. Recommend.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

My old professor has pleased me. He has some interesting ideas on convergent and divergent thinking. I like the description of analagous reasoning and the logic of mirror neurons and the formation of the prefrontal and neo cortex half a million years ago. I always thought it would be interesting if someone did a jungian perspection of the formation of the mind and how we have perceived our cognition through philosophy. Reading the early greek philosophers is eerily similar to what we are finding our brain to be.

[Dave Schey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because I'm fascinated in what we can know about the development of the brain, language, and religion in human evolution. The book is a nice collections of articles written by the archaeologists, paleoanthropologists, neuroscientists and psychologists doing the work in these fields.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

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