Innovation and technological change in the archaeological record : conceptual design in Mediterranean maritime technology from the archaic to late antiquity
This thesis argues for an empirical approach to the study of innovation. Innovation has traditionally been approached as qualitative and therefore not identifiable in the archaeological record. The author uses engineeringâs principles of conceptual design to argue that fundamental technical concepts differentiate technologies and the level to which a new concept is dissimilar to previous concepts determines its level of innovation. By defining an innovation as the creation of a new conceptual design framework, the thesis explores an empirical view of innovation and how the creation and transfer of design concepts can be quantified and mapped. In the past, mechanisms for technological change have been adapted to culture from determinism or natural analogies such as evolution. This thesis argues that, as conceptual designs, the most valid mechanism originates from social theories relating to the creation and transfer of concepts. The author introduces TechnologyâasâConcept as a means to explain the creation and transfer of design concepts as found in the archaeological record. This approach is applied to three maritime technologies found in the Mediterranean that date from the Archaic Period through Late
Campbell, Peter Bryson
Innovation and technological change in the archaeological record : conceptual design in Mediterranean maritime technology from the archaic to late antiquity. This thesis argues for an empirical approach to the study of innovation. Innovation has traditionally been approached as qualitative and therefore not identifiable in the archaeological record. The author uses engineeringâs principles of conceptual design to argue that fundamental technical concepts differentiate technologies and the level to which a new concept is dissimilar to previous concepts determines its level of innovation. By defining an innovation as the creation of a new conceptual design framework, the thesis explores an empirical view of innovation and how the creation and transfer of design concepts can be quantified and mapped. In the past, mechanisms for technological change have been adapted to culture from determinism or natural analogies such as evolution. This thesis argues that, as conceptual designs, the most valid mechanism originates from social theories relating to the creation and transfer of concepts. The author introduces TechnologyâasâConcept as a means to explain the creation and transfer of design concepts as found in the archaeological record. This approach is applied to three maritime technologies found in the Mediterranean that date from the Archaic Period through Late
innovation technological_change archaeological_record conceptual design mediterranean maritime technology archaic late_antiquity argues empirical_study innovation innovation traditionally approach qualitative therefore identifiable archaeological_record author use engineering principle conceptual design argue fundamental technical concept differentiate technology level new concept dissimilar previous concept determines level innovation define innovation creation_new conceptual design framework explore empirical view innovation creation transfer design concept quantify map past mechanisms technological_change adapt culture determinism natural analogy evolution argues conceptual design valid mechanism originate social_theory relate creation transfer concept author introduces technology concept mean explain creation transfer design concept find archaeological_record apply maritime technology find mediterranean date archaic_period late