Causes of toolkit variation among hunter-gatherers: a test of four competing hypotheses

Canadian Journal of Archaeology • Vol/Iss. 29 • Canadian Archaeological Association • • Published In • Pages: 1-19 •
By Collard, Mark, Kemery, Michael, Banks, Samantha

Abstract

This study tests four hypotheses that propose potential environmental and social predictors of toolkit size and complexity among hunter-gatherers. Hypotheses predicting relationships between population size, residential mobility, type of food resources and toolkit structure are not supported. Risk of resource failure is the only variable that is significantly associated with toolkit structure.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherOther ResearchersFrom Oswalt (1976) and Torrence (1983, 1989)

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
The characteristics of resources exploited for food will influence toolkit structure (2).Not Supported
Residential mobility will influence toolkit structure (5).Not Supported
Population size will influence toolkit structure (6).Not Supported
Risk of resource failure will influence toolkit structure (4).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Megan Farrer  anj.droe