Speculation does have its positive aspects
However, there are problems:
Archaeologists must have material evidence
Areas of major concern:
Oral Tradition
Historicity -- Just how historical is it?
Does it contain temporal information that we can use?
Does it contain information about geography we can use?
Does it contain material "markers" that are archaeologically recoverable?
Oral tradition's advantage is its immediacy, but that causes you to think in terms of a "present" past
Form, Function and Meaning
Just because something is present in two or more places does not mean it is the same
Form: an object's physical characteristics, capable of being measured; morphology
Function: an object's use; the purpose it serves for those who use it; a position or
role in a system
Meaning: what the object and its function means to those who use it
These are very deceptive. The electric chair in Ethiopia.
In diffusion arguments, these are crucial.
Diffusion
Diffusion: the spread of objects or ideas from one place to another
Complex diffusion: a whole complex of objects, their functions and their meanings are transmitted.
Rarely happens except in cases of conquest or colonization
Single Trait diffusion: a few or a single item is transmitted
Frequently happens, mostly in trade
Stimulus diffusion: an idea or concept, but not a physical object, is transmitted
Frequently happens in culture contact, imitation of ideas, but with local execution
Independent Invention
Independent Invention: roughly the same ideas , concepts or physical forms appear in different places without contact between the places
Occurs more often than people realize
Similar situations of ecology, modes of production, social organization lead to similar solutions to similar problems
However, even though form may be similar, function and meaning can be very different. As well objects can have the same function or meaning, but vastly different forms
Time of appearance may be very different, and if so, this must be explained
Too often in speculation, few of these ideas are considered and people easily assume diffusion.
These problems isled many during the Speculative Period and many of the contemporary period who engage in "hyperdiffusionism" such as Barry Fell in his many books.
Occam's Razor
An old adage in science: The simplest explanation is the best.
More precisely, the simplest explanation with the smallest number of variables that can account for the greatest number of phenomena is the best.
Thus diffusion, though it seems simple on the surface, is not always so simple.
Example: Carl Sagan's eloquent statements in The Cosmic Connection about why extraterrestrial contact is virtually impossible at levels intensive enough to bring much in the way of culture change to earth.
By extension, independent invention is often easier to account for than transoceanic contact.
| Main | Outline| Announcements | Lecture Notes | Video Guides | Additional Materials | Links |
larry-zimmerman@uiowa.edu
University of Iowa Anthropology
08.20.98