Prehistory covers the period of some 4 million years before the start of written history, when our earliest ancestors, the Australopithecines, existed in Africa. But this is relatively recent compared to whole history of the earth of some 4.5 billion years. A key aspect of prehistory is that it provides a sense of scale, throwing recent ways of life into perspective. Humans and their ancestors lived in many different ways and the cultural variety we see now is just a tiny fraction of that which has existed over millions of years. Humans are part of the broader evolution of landscapes and communities of plants and animals, but Homo sapiens is also the only species to have made a real impact on planetary systems. To understand such an impact, we need a grasp of our longest term development and ways of life.
In this new edition of his Very Short Introduction, Chris Gosden invites us to think seriously about who we are by considering who we have been. As he explains, many new discoveries have been made in archaeology over the last ten years, and a new framework for prehistory is emerging. A greater understanding of Chinese and central Asian prehistory has thrown Eurasian prehistory in quite a different light, with flows of the influence of culture over large areas now evident. This has eaten away at the traditional view of human progress around the invention of agriculture, the development of cities and (much later) the industrial revolution, and given us new geographies to think about. Chris Gosden explores the new landscape of our prehistory, and considers the way the different geographical locations weave together.
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What’s the new framework of prehistory Chris Gosden had in mind? (ChatGPT, 2024-11-9)
In the second edition of “Prehistory: A Very Short Introduction,” published in 2018, Chris Gosden presents a revised framework for understanding prehistory, reflecting significant archaeological discoveries and evolving perspectives over the preceding decade. This new framework emphasizes the following key aspects:
1. Expanded Geographical Focus:
• Integration of Chinese and Central Asian Prehistory: Gosden highlights the importance of incorporating findings from China and Central Asia, which have provided new insights into Eurasian prehistory. These discoveries challenge traditional narratives centered on Western regions, offering a more comprehensive understanding of cultural developments across the continent.
2. Reevaluation of Human Progress Narratives:
• Questioning Linear Progress Models: The traditional view of human history as a linear progression—from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural communities, then to urbanization and industrialization—is reconsidered. Gosden suggests that this perspective oversimplifies the complexities of human development and overlooks the diverse pathways different societies have taken.
3. Emphasis on Cultural Interconnections:
• Continental Fusion: The new framework underscores the significance of cultural exchanges across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It explores how interactions among these regions influenced technological advancements, social structures, and cultural practices, leading to a more interconnected view of prehistoric societies.
4. Recognition of Diverse Developmental Trajectories:
• Multiple Pathways: Gosden acknowledges that different societies followed varied developmental paths, shaped by unique environmental, social, and cultural factors. This perspective moves away from a one-size-fits-all model of human progress, recognizing the richness and diversity of human experiences throughout prehistory.
By adopting this revised framework, Gosden encourages a more nuanced and inclusive approach to studying prehistory, one that appreciates the complexity and diversity of human societies and their development over millennia.
Is there evidence of continental fusion in the prehistory? (ChatGPT, 2024-11-9)
Yes, there is significant evidence of cultural “continental fusion” in prehistory, where interactions among early human populations across Europe, Asia, and Africa led to exchanges of technology, culture, and genetics. Here are some key points illustrating this prehistoric fusion:
1. Genetic Evidence from Ancient DNA
• Studies of ancient DNA have shown significant interbreeding among various human species and populations across continents, particularly between Neanderthals in Europe and Western Asia, Denisovans in Asia, and anatomically modern humans who migrated from Africa. This genetic exchange suggests a mixing of populations that contributed to the diversity of early human genetics and allowed for the spread of traits advantageous to survival.
• Example: Modern non-African populations carry Neanderthal DNA, and some populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania also carry Denisovan DNA, indicating historical interbreeding events that likely took place when early humans moved through Eurasia.
2. Spread of Technologies and Tools
• Stone tools and technologies, such as the Acheulean hand axes and later the Levallois technique, spread across continents, suggesting a cultural fusion or exchange of knowledge. This spread demonstrates that early human groups were not isolated but instead shared and adapted innovations as they encountered one another.
• Example: The Mousterian tool industry, associated primarily with Neanderthals in Europe and parts of Asia, shows similarities to tools made by Homo sapiens in Africa, indicating either a shared origin or a cultural exchange as populations interacted.
3. Art and Symbolism
• Evidence of early symbolic behavior, such as the use of ochre for body decoration and early forms of rock art, appears in various regions and suggests cultural interactions or convergent developments across continents. These symbolic practices likely spread as groups migrated and interacted.
• Example: Similarities in early rock art styles, beads, and other symbolic artifacts found in Africa, Europe, and Asia suggest that symbolic thinking and cultural practices were shared among groups, possibly through migration and cultural fusion.
4. Agricultural Spread
• The development and spread of agriculture is one of the most profound examples of cultural fusion in prehistory. Originating in the Fertile Crescent (modern-day Middle East), agricultural practices and crops spread into Europe, Asia, and Africa, reshaping societies and leading to more complex social structures and technological advancements.
• Example: The introduction of wheat, barley, and domesticated animals from the Near East into Europe around 9,000 years ago marks a clear fusion of cultural practices that transformed European societies.
5. Trade and Exchange Networks
• Archaeological evidence shows that early societies engaged in long-distance trade and exchange, transporting goods like obsidian, shell, and amber across great distances. This trade indicates that different prehistoric cultures had established routes of interaction across continents, allowing for the diffusion of materials, ideas, and innovations.
• Example: Obsidian tools and decorative shells from distant sources have been found in archaeological sites far from their points of origin, suggesting that prehistoric people had extensive networks of trade that connected Europe, Asia, and Africa.
6. Evidence from Burial Practices and Social Structures
• Burial practices show evidence of shared or transmitted cultural norms. The presence of similar burial practices in different regions and times may indicate cultural transmission or shared beliefs about death and the afterlife.
• Example: The practice of burying the dead with grave goods, seen in Neanderthal sites in Europe and later in early Homo sapiens burials in Africa and Asia, may reflect a shared symbolic understanding or a diffusion of cultural beliefs across continents.
7. Parallel and Convergent Evolution of Social Complexity
• As societies evolved, certain structures—such as hierarchical organization, specialization, and the establishment of proto-cities—developed in parallel across continents, sometimes influenced by contact and exchange but often as convergent solutions to similar challenges.
• Example: Early urban centers and complex societies independently emerged in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Egypt, and China, but there is also evidence of indirect influence or contact, such as shared architectural techniques, that indicate a broader cultural fusion.
The accumulation of genetic, archaeological, and cultural evidence demonstrates that prehistoric populations were interconnected. This “continental fusion” fostered a complex web of human interaction, leading to shared technologies, ideas, and even genetic material that shaped the evolution of human societies across Europe, Asia, and Africa.