Hominin cognitive and behavioural complexity in the Pleistocene : assessment through identity, intentionality and visual display
The Social Brian Hypothesis predicts the cognitive ability of hominin species by utilising estimated brain and group sizes in relation to an ordinal scale of cognitive complexity expressed as orders of intentionality. The Social Brain Hypothesis predictions however, have never been correlated to the archaeological behavioural record in order to ascertain their behavioural validity. This thesis is concerned with testing the cognitive predictions of the Social Brain Hypothesis against the material culture evidence of hominin behaviour through a new theoretical construct termed the Identity Model. The Identity Model offers a theoretical perspective on the construction of individual and group identity through the Palaeolithic linked to a scale of cognitive complexity shared by the Social Brain Hypothesis. Embedded within the Identity Model are the notions that material culture / behaviour could be imbued with culturally significant social meaning once the ability to construct proxies had been achieved, this in turn feeds into the development of language from non-linguistic societies based on visual display to fully grammatical syntax. Using technological modes and widely held beliefs within the academic community
Cole, James Nathan
CC Archaeology
Hominin cognitive and behavioural complexity in the Pleistocene : assessment through identity, intentionality and visual display. The Social Brian Hypothesis predicts the cognitive ability of hominin species by utilising estimated brain and group sizes in relation to an ordinal scale of cognitive complexity expressed as orders of intentionality. The Social Brain Hypothesis predictions however, have never been correlated to the archaeological behavioural record in order to ascertain their behavioural validity. This thesis is concerned with testing the cognitive predictions of the Social Brain Hypothesis against the material culture evidence of hominin behaviour through a new theoretical construct termed the Identity Model. The Identity Model offers a theoretical perspective on the construction of individual and group identity through the Palaeolithic linked to a scale of cognitive complexity shared by the Social Brain Hypothesis. Embedded within the Identity Model are the notions that material culture / behaviour could be imbued with culturally significant social meaning once the ability to construct proxies had been achieved, this in turn feeds into the development of language from non-linguistic societies based on visual display to fully grammatical syntax. Using technological modes and widely held beliefs within the academic community
hominin cognitive behavioural complexity pleistocene assessment identity intentionality visual display social hypothesis predict cognitive_ability hominin specie utilise estimate brain group size relation scale cognitive complexity express order intentionality social brain hypothesis prediction however never correlate archaeological behavioural record order ascertain behavioural validity concerned test cognitive prediction social brain hypothesis material_culture evidence hominin behaviour new theoretical_construct term identity model identity model offer theoretical_perspective construction individual_group identity palaeolithic link scale cognitive complexity share social brain hypothesis embedded within identity model notion material_culture behaviour could imbue culturally significant social_meaning ability construct proxy achieve turn feed development language non_linguistic society base_visual display fully grammatical syntax using technological mode widely_hold belief within academic community