An ethnological analogy and biogenetic model for interpretation of religion and ritual in the past

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory • Vol/Iss. 29 • Springer • • Published In • Pages: 335–389 •
By Winkelman, Michael J.

Hypothesis

Subsistence type will predict magico-religious practitioner type.

Note

Intensive agriculture was negatively correlated to shamans (b=-.20), but positively correlated to sorcerer/witch (b=.27), priests (b=.28), and shaman-healers (b=.54). Shamanistic healers, mediums and healers were not included in this test. Overall foraging was negatively correlated to shamanistic healers (-.17) and shaman-healers (-.26), but positively correlated with shamans (.40).

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Multiple regressionSupportedp< .05See noteUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Subsistence TypeIndependentDiet
Practitioner typeDependentSorcery, Shamans And Psychotherapists, Magicians And Diviners, Priesthood

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Winkelman, Michael James"Societies with a single practitioner type were generally hunting and gathering societies; while those with two practitioner types always had agriculture as a major mode of subsistence. The societies with three practitioner types present had agricultural or pastoral economies and, with one exception, political integration beyond the local level. Those societies with four practitioner types present had agriculture and political integration beyond the local level and, with one exception, the p...
Winkelman, Michael James"Mediums occurred in societies with agricultural or pastoral economies, and, with one exception, they occurred only in societies with political integration beyond the local level" (36)
Winkelman, Michael J. Warfare will predict magio-religious practitioner type.
Winkelman, Michael J. Political integration will predict magico-religious practitioner type.
Winkelman, Michael James"All of the Shamans were in nomadic or seminomadic societies, which generally has hunting and gathering economies" (36)..."However, all of the Shaman/Healers were found in societies with agriculture, and almost all of the Healers were found in societies with political integration beyond the local level" (36)