Behavioral Ecology and Archaeology
Author(s): Douglas W. Bird and James F. O'Connell
Source: Journal of Archaeological Research, Vol. 14, No. 2 (June 2006), pp. 143-188
Published by: Springer
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41053227 .
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JArchaeol (2006) 14:143-188
Res
DOI 10.1007/S10814-006-9003-6

~

ORIGINAL PAPER

BehavioralEcologyand Archaeology
E
DouglasW.Bird• James O'Connell

Published online:13 June
2006
© Springer
Science+Business
Media,Inc.2006

Abstract
Behavioral
of in is study adaptive behavior relation socialandenvito ecology the ronmental circumstances. from perspective that reproductive this hold the
Analysts
working and of humans are strategies decision-making capacities all living organismsincluding natural selection. havebeenusing proposition thestudy this in by shaped
Archaeologists
in of pasthuman behavior more for than years. on 30
Significant
insights variation preand historic human life socialorganization, their fossil and subsistence, history, respective have the results. important archaeological consequences beenamong more
• Costly
•
• Hominin history life KeywordsEvolutionary ecology Optimal foraging • Hereditary signaling inequality
Introduction
and behavior highly is Much human of purposeful; complex, strikingly patterned, seemingly human behavior ofadaptive ithasallthe characteristics (Williams,
1966).Moreover,
design
Ifbehavior indeed does material traces canbe monitored that often leaves archaeologically. about often abletogenerate be we expectations itspastform design, might display adaptive andassessthose andvariation specific in expectations archaeologically. ecological settings to
Weexplore extent which hasbeenandcontinues be a useful the to this proposition. in is of Webegin with somedefinitions.
Evolutionary
ecology thestudy adaptive design of behavior In life and behavior, history, morphology.theframeworkevolutionary biology, an in enhance individual's it environmental is "adaptive" when tracks variabilitywaysthat D. W. Bird(M)
Stanford
of
Sciences,
University,
Department Anthropological
17
California
94305-21
Bldg360,Stanford, e-mail: dwbird@stanford.edu
J.F. O'Connell of of
Department Anthropology,
University Utah,
270 South1400East,SaltLake City,
Utah84112-0060

ta Springer

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

144

JArchaeol (2006) 14:143-188
Res

defined generally itspropensitysurvive reproduce most as inclusive to and fitness,
(Williams,
of thatstudies the
1966). Behavioral ecology(BE) is the subset evolutionary ecology fitness-related behavioral trade-offs organisms inparticular that face environments.asks BE of haveemerged continue persist looksto their and and to whycertain patterns behavior in context seeking answers and
1992,
(Smith Winterhaider, pp.25-50). socioecological The basic framework inquiry BE was established the 1960sand 1970sby for in in andforaging
in