Learning Without Lessons

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 18, 2024

Abstract This work is designed to fill a rather large lacuna in the field of child development and education. A growing scholarly consensus challenges universality Western-dominated research psychology. All or most markers child’s growth are now subject reexamination through cross-cultural lens. By same token, study education has been similarly restricted as norms theory constructed almost exclusively from Euroamerican schools. aims substantial portion this gap, particular document analyze myriad processes that come play indigenous children learn their culture—without schools lessons. It will characterize conglomeration learning-rich events instances “pedagogy culture.” The construct several connotations, but paramount idea opportunities for learning occur naturally course activities such work, play, nighttime campfire stories, so on, not primarily intended educate. Two significant sources data be drawn on: focused, empirical studies cultural psychology accounts childhood ethnographic archaeological records. These latter have underutilized speculations on nature learning. overall conclusion pedagogy found communities before advent schooling differs very ways practiced homes schooled parents. differences help account early failure many introduced educate naïve subjects successfully.

Language: Английский

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Reconsidering the link between past material culture and cognition in light of contemporary hunter-gatherer material use.

Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 53

Published: March 14, 2024

Many have interpreted symbolic material culture in the deep past as evidencing origins sophisticated, modern cognition. Scholars from across behavioural and cognitive sciences, including linguists, psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists, primatologists, archaeologists paleoanthropologists used such artefacts to assess capacities of extinct human species, set benchmarks, milestones or otherwise chart course evolution. To better calibrate our expectations, present paper instead explores three contemporary African forager groups. Results show that, while these groups are unequivocally behaviourally modern, they would leave scant long-lasting evidence behaviour. Artefact-sets typically small, perhaps consequence residential mobility. When excluding traded materials, few components with moderate-strong taphonomic signatures. Present analyses that artefact function influences preservation probability, utilitarian tools for processing materials preparation food disproportionately likely contain archaeologically traceable components. There substantial differences material-use between populations, which create important population-level variation probability independent differences. I discuss factors - cultural, ecological practical influence choice. In so doing, highlight difficulties using an evolutionary yardstick.

Language: Английский

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Hominin cognition: The null hypothesis

Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 48

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract The target article explores material culture datasets from three African forager groups. After demonstrating that these modern, contemporary human populations would leave scant evidence of symbolic behaviour or complexity, it cautioned against using as a barometer for cognition in the deep past. Twenty-one commentaries broadly support expand conclusions. A minority offer targeted demurrals, highlighting (1) soundness reasoning absence; and questioning (2) “cognitively modern” null; (3) role hunter-gatherer ethnography; (4) pertinence inferential issues identified article. In synthesising discussions, this reply addresses all four points demurral turn, concludes there is much to be gained shifting our null assumptions reconsidering probabilistic links between past cognition.

Language: Английский

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The Ties That Bind: Computational, Cross-cultural Analyses of Knots Reveal Their Cultural Evolutionary History and Significance

Cambridge Archaeological Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 17

Published: March 13, 2025

Abstract Integral to the fabric of human technology, knots have shaped survival strategies since their first invention. As ties that bind, evolution and diversity afforded cultural change expression. This study examines knotting traditions over time space. We analyse a sample 338 from 86 ethnographically or archaeologically documented societies 12 millennia. Utilizing novel approach combines knot theory with computational string matching, we show knotted structures can be precisely represented compared across cultures. methodology reveals staple set occur cross-culturally, our analysis offers insights into transmission reasons behind ubiquity. discuss in context evolution, illustrating how ethnographic archaeological records suggest considerable know-how knot-tying spanning deep past contemporary times. The also highlights potential this extend beyond knots, proposing its applicability broader range fibre technologies.

Language: Английский

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From Novices to Experts: Skill Development and Knowledge Transmission in Prehistory

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Language: Английский

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A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation

Published: Jan. 23, 2024

Few cultural practices beyond language are as widespread string figure games. Their global distribution and potential to yield insights into transmission cognition have long been noted. Yet, it remains unknown how or when this behavior originated what extent shared motifs signals of repeated innovations deep transmission. Here, we combined a cross-cultural inventory figures with novel methodology based on knot theory, which enables the unequivocal numerical coding figures. We performed computational analysis sample 826 from 92 societies around world. Across these societies, found 83 recurring designs, some regionally restricted while others display distribution. The cognitively opaque nature designs their clear geographic reveals processes transmission, innovation, convergent evolution. Most strikingly, raises possibility ancient origins.

Language: Английский

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The ties that bind: Computational, cross-cultural analyses of knots reveal their cultural evolutionary history and significance

Published: June 10, 2024

Integral to the fabric of human technology, knots have shaped survival strategies throughout history. As ties that bind, their evolution and diversity afforded cultural change expression. This study examines knotting traditions over time space. We analyse a sample 332 from 83 ethnographically or archaeologically documented societies ten millennia. Utilising novel approach combines knot theory with computational string matching, we show knotted structures can be precisely represented compared across cultures. methodology reveals staple set occur cross-culturally, our analysis offers insights into transmission reasons behind ubiquity. discuss in context evolution, illustrating how ethnographic archaeological records suggest considerable know-how knot-tying spanning deep past contemporary times. The also highlights potential this extend beyond knots, proposing its applicability broader range technologies.

Language: Английский

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Children at play: The role of novices in the production of Europe’s earliest Upper Paleolithic ceramics

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(10), P. e0309107 - e0309107

Published: Oct. 25, 2024

Although archaeologists are learning more about the lives of Upper Paleolithic children, significant contributions they made to welfare their communities, including role in craft production, remain understudied. In present study, we use high resolution photographs 489 ceramic artifacts from Dolní Věstonice I and II, Pavlov VI, Předmostí, five archaeological sites Czechia (ca. 30,000 BP) address two questions: 1. Can products novices be distinguished those by experts? 2. If so, can tell if these were children? To questions, documented variables known ethnographically archaeologically associated with learners a sample sites. The is composed fired ("ceramic") unfired ("sedimentary") anthropomorphic zoomorphic figurines, non-diagnostic figurine fragments so-called "pellets" one site, I. Our results support hypothesis that objects novices, many cases, children. findings have implications for inter-generational knowledge transmission, children production importance through play.

Language: Английский

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Reassessing the Interpretative Potential of Ethnographic Collections for Early Hunting Technologies

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 1129 - 1151

Published: Dec. 20, 2023

Abstract Archaeological studies of early weaponry have relied for decades on ethnographic parallels—whether from ethnohistorical accounts, literature, or objects studied in museum collections. While such accounts and collected provided key data the past, including morphometrics functionality, few explored quality data. In this paper, we critically assess a dominant theoretical paradigm, namely utility collections to Pleistocene archaeological material. Our focus is how spear are used propose delivery methods weapons. We discuss significance spears, role that ethnography has played interpreting them. provide new morphometric wooden which been analogically earliest hunting tools. systematically spears five museums UK Australia mass, length, diameters point balance, alongside any recorded information provenance use. Older datasets, as well limited due collection bias lack detailed records. By subjecting statistical analyses, find with exceptions not reliable predictors thrusting hand-thrown (javelins). Prevalent hypotheses linking variables tip design, maximum diameter unsupported by our results. However, descriptive statistics may remain useful means comparative conclude using simple parse weapon had drag effect forming interesting about

Language: Английский

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Small artifacts among the hunter-gatherers of the southern La Plata Basin

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(2)

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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