AR101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Olduvai Gorge, Oldowan, Cognitive Archaeology
1 Feb 2018
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November 16, 2017 (cid:862)a general term for higher mental processes through which people acquire knowledge, solve proble(cid:373)s, pla(cid:374) for the future(cid:863) Depends on: concepts, pre-existing categories = recognition (e. g. diff types of chairs, symbols, represent objects and events not present. What i know, feel, want, and value, drives behaviour/actions produces performance value. The study of the ways of thought of past societies (and individuals) from material remains. Focus on cognitive archaeology: concepts and symbols in early societies, symbols are ascribed meaning by a specific cultural tradition, context is extremely important. Cognitive-processual archaeology focuses on how symbols are used. Cognitive-interpretive archaeologies focus on the meaning of symbols. The development/evolution of human capacity for symbolic behaviour. Oldowan industry (comprised of hand held flakes, chopping tools, axes) Oldowan reflects important adaptive shift in human evolution. Stone tool manufacture (some sort of planning & organization) Related to other aspects of early hominin behaviour.
