Archaeology, Evolution and Darwinism

The Evolution of Darwinism

W hen biologists refer to the theory of evolution nowa­ days, they are usually think­ ing not of Charles Darwin'S original statement of the theory but of a modi­ fied and expanded version of Darwin­ ism that took shape in the 1930's and 1940's. First known as the Neo-Dar­ winian theory and later as the synthet­ ic theory, it affirmed the fundamental tenets of Darwinism. It held that evo­ lution...

Archaeology and cognitive evolution.

Archaeology can provide two bodies of information relevant to the understanding of the evolution of human cognition--the timing of developments, and the evolutionary context of these developments. The challenge is methodological. Archaeology must document attributes that have direct implications for underlying cognitive mechanisms. One example of such a cognitive archaeology is found in spatial...

Darwinism and social Darwinism.

Insect evolution: a major problem for Darwinism

Insects provide a severe challenge for Darwinian evolution. In contrast with the vertebrate fossil record, for example, where only bones are available, evolutionary speculation can run wild, but the exquisite detail of fossil insects has produced virtual silence on this front. A review of the insect fossil record literature reveals a complete lack of evidence for the evolution of insects and ot...

Two interpretations of human evolution: Essentialism and Darwinism

Despite intensive studies of a large number of fossils discovered during the 20th century there is no consensus as to the interpretation of the process of hominin evolution. Some authors see as many as six genera and some 17 species, while others argue for a single lineage from Plio/Pleistocene until today. Such diversity of interpretations of the same facts indicates lack of a uniform theoreti...