Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use
The field of Primate Archaeology is concerned with (A) understanding the origins and development of tool use in non-human primates, and (B) the implications of a general primate model for understanding human technical and cognitive development. Cross-species comparisons, however, remain distinctly a...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2021
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| _version_ | 1797107299322429440 |
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| author | Mosley, HL |
| author2 | Malafouris, L |
| author_facet | Malafouris, L Mosley, HL |
| author_sort | Mosley, HL |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The field of Primate Archaeology is concerned with (A) understanding the origins and development of tool use in non-human primates, and (B) the implications of a general primate model for understanding human technical and cognitive development. Cross-species comparisons, however, remain distinctly anthropocentric in nature. The metaphysical commitments of Neo-Darwinist frameworks reinforce an inherent assumption that cognition is something which takes place in the head, influenced but apart from the body and environment. Assuming psychological discontinuity of this kind, comes at the expense of taking phylogenetic, bodily and environmental differences seriously – a considerable problem when we consider the diversity of primate tool using species which a comparative model must include. In an attempt to overcome issues of heterogeneity and anthropocentrism, this thesis explores the potential of the Material Engagement Theory as a means of re-conceptualizing complexity and causal cognition in Primate tool use, and as the basis of a methodological framework suitable for cross-species comparison. Case-studies of the three living lithic-using non-human primates are compiled and compared, demonstrating the emergent, processual nature of technical cognition as a fundamentally non-individualistic phenomenon co-constituted by the environment and others. General patterns are discussed with reference to theories of technical evolution. The findings of this thesis suggest current hypotheses of primate human and non-human technical evolution, as long as they maintain a separation between mind and matter, cannot accurately account for the role of tool using in cognitive development. To better integrate mind with materials, future research must shift its focus away from the brain, body, and environment, and towards the diachronically shifting, dynamic spaces between. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:14:07Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:9dcbfde1-b127-4145-aac6-8773424d473c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:14:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:9dcbfde1-b127-4145-aac6-8773424d473c2022-07-14T14:28:53ZPrimate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-useThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:9dcbfde1-b127-4145-aac6-8773424d473cArchaeologyCognition and cultureAnthropology, PrehistoricTool use in animalsEnglishHyrax Deposit2021Mosley, HLMalafouris, LThe field of Primate Archaeology is concerned with (A) understanding the origins and development of tool use in non-human primates, and (B) the implications of a general primate model for understanding human technical and cognitive development. Cross-species comparisons, however, remain distinctly anthropocentric in nature. The metaphysical commitments of Neo-Darwinist frameworks reinforce an inherent assumption that cognition is something which takes place in the head, influenced but apart from the body and environment. Assuming psychological discontinuity of this kind, comes at the expense of taking phylogenetic, bodily and environmental differences seriously – a considerable problem when we consider the diversity of primate tool using species which a comparative model must include. In an attempt to overcome issues of heterogeneity and anthropocentrism, this thesis explores the potential of the Material Engagement Theory as a means of re-conceptualizing complexity and causal cognition in Primate tool use, and as the basis of a methodological framework suitable for cross-species comparison. Case-studies of the three living lithic-using non-human primates are compiled and compared, demonstrating the emergent, processual nature of technical cognition as a fundamentally non-individualistic phenomenon co-constituted by the environment and others. General patterns are discussed with reference to theories of technical evolution. The findings of this thesis suggest current hypotheses of primate human and non-human technical evolution, as long as they maintain a separation between mind and matter, cannot accurately account for the role of tool using in cognitive development. To better integrate mind with materials, future research must shift its focus away from the brain, body, and environment, and towards the diachronically shifting, dynamic spaces between. |
| spellingShingle | Archaeology Cognition and culture Anthropology, Prehistoric Tool use in animals Mosley, HL Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title | Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title_full | Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title_fullStr | Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title_short | Primate archaeology: comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool-use |
| title_sort | primate archaeology comparative models for the evolution of primate technical cognition through tool use |
| topic | Archaeology Cognition and culture Anthropology, Prehistoric Tool use in animals |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mosleyhl primatearchaeologycomparativemodelsfortheevolutionofprimatetechnicalcognitionthroughtooluse |