Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans

Aoki Kenichi Nishiaki Yoshihiro Akazawa Takeru

ISBN 10: 4431545107 / ISBN 13: 9784431545101

Published by Springer, 2014

About this Item

PRINT ON DEMAND pp. x + 277.

Seller Inventory # 18142304756

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 4431545107
• ISBN 13: 9784431545101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This volume presents the first of two proceedings from the International Conference on the Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans, which took place in Tokyo in November 2012. Focussing on a highly innovative working hypothesis called the ‘learning hypothesis’, which attempts to explain the replacement as a result of differences in the learning abilities of these two hominid populations, the conference served as the latest multidisciplinary discussion forum on this intriguing Palaeoanthropological issue. The present volume reports on outcomes of the conference in three major sections. Part 1 provides an archaeological overview of the processes of replacement/assimilation of Neanderthals by modern humans. Part 2 consists of archaeological and ethnographic case studies exploring evidence of learning behaviours in prehistoric and modern hunter-gatherer societies. Part 3 presents a collection of papers that directly contributes to the definition, validation and testing of the learninghypothesis in terms of population biology and evolutionary theory. A total of 18 papers in this volume make available to readers unique cultural perspectives on mechanisms of the replacement/assimilation of Neanderthals by modern humans and suggested relationships between these mechanisms and different learning strategies.