Thoughtful Foragers: A Study of Prehistoric Decision Making

Steven J. Mithen

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752964

Thoughtful Foragers is about hunter-gatherer decision making. The author explores the implications of the human mind as a product of biological evolution for the way in which humans solve foraging problems. He draws on studies form ethology, psychology and ethnography prior to turning his attention to prehistoric hunter-gatherers. He attempts to construct explanations for patterns in the archaeological record by an explicit focus on decision making by individuals. Thoughtful Foragers will appeal to specialists in European prehistory as well as to those interested in archaeological theory and method. It makes some very significant advances, which will be of real importance for the field of evolutionary theory in relation to human evolution and the evaluation of human social systems.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-vii
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List of figures
pp viii-ix
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List of tables
pp x-x
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Preface
pp xi-xii
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1 - Introduction
pp 1-18
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PART ONE - LEARNING FROM THE PRESENT
pp 19-20
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2 - The eco-psychology of decision making
pp 21-51
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3 - The ethnography of hunter-gatherer decision making
pp 52-88
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PART TWO - MESOLITHIC FORAGING AND SOCIETY
pp 89-90
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4 - Broken bones and buried bodies: patterns in the archaeological record
pp 91-108
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5 - Gearing up with methodological tools: building a simulation model
pp 109-151
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6 - Decision making in the Mesolithic: multiple action replays
pp 152-194
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PART THREE - UPPER PALAEOLITHIC ART AND ECONOMY
pp 195-196
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7 - Seeking the decision maker: faunal assemblages and hunting behaviour
pp 197-225
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8 - Through a hunter's eyes … and into his mind?
pp 226-255
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9 - Conclusion
pp 256-265
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Bibliography
pp 266-285
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Index
pp 286-289
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Thoughtful Foragers

A Study of Prehistoric Decision Making

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-vii

List of figures
pp viii-ix

List of tables
pp x-x

Preface
pp xi-xii

1 - Introduction
pp 1-18

PART ONE - LEARNING FROM THE PRESENT
pp 19-20

2 - The eco-psychology of decision making
pp 21-51

3 - The ethnography of hunter-gatherer decision making
pp 52-88

PART TWO - MESOLITHIC FORAGING AND SOCIETY
pp 89-90

4 - Broken bones and buried bodies: patterns in the archaeological record
pp 91-108

5 - Gearing up with methodological tools: building a simulation model
pp 109-151

6 - Decision making in the Mesolithic: multiple action replays
pp 152-194

PART THREE - UPPER PALAEOLITHIC ART AND ECONOMY
pp 195-196

7 - Seeking the decision maker: faunal assemblages and hunting behaviour
pp 197-225

8 - Through a hunter's eyes … and into his mind?
pp 226-255

9 - Conclusion
pp 256-265

Bibliography
pp 266-285

Index
pp 286-289

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Thoughtful Foragers

A Study of Prehistoric Decision Making

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