Population dynamics in the Late Glacial Refugium of Southwest France
In this thesis I explore population processes in the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwest France. Traditionally, prehistorians have regarded the region as a ârefugiumâ during the Last Glacial Maximum, into which populations contracted during periods of climatic deterioration in Europe. This refuge zone status has been used to explain the proliferation of artworks and diverse archaeological traces found in the region. Innovation and demography have been theoretically linked for some time. High population densities are thought to lead to high innovation rates. Two possible mechanisms link these two variables. In the ïŹrst scenario, high population densities cause intra-species competition, which leads to a pressure to innovate. The second scenario is a simple ânumbers gameâ; high population density increases the probability of innovation occurring and being transmitted from person to person. In this thesis I explore population processes in the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwest France using the proxies of radiocarbon dates and intra-site lithic densities. I demonstrate that there are several peaks in population in the region, including one coinciding with the LGM. Based on this data, I argue that the region
Collins, Christina
Population dynamics in the Late Glacial Refugium of Southwest France. In this thesis I explore population processes in the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwest France. Traditionally, prehistorians have regarded the region as a ârefugiumâ during the Last Glacial Maximum, into which populations contracted during periods of climatic deterioration in Europe. This refuge zone status has been used to explain the proliferation of artworks and diverse archaeological traces found in the region. Innovation and demography have been theoretically linked for some time. High population densities are thought to lead to high innovation rates. Two possible mechanisms link these two variables. In the ïŹrst scenario, high population densities cause intra-species competition, which leads to a pressure to innovate. The second scenario is a simple ânumbers gameâ; high population density increases the probability of innovation occurring and being transmitted from person to person. In this thesis I explore population processes in the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwest France using the proxies of radiocarbon dates and intra-site lithic densities. I demonstrate that there are several peaks in population in the region, including one coinciding with the LGM. Based on this data, I argue that the region
population_dynamic late glacial southwest france explore population process upper palaeolithic southwest france traditionally prehistorians regard region last glacial maximum population contract period climatic deterioration europe refuge zone status use explain proliferation artwork diverse archaeological trace find region innovation demography theoretically link time high population_density think lead high innovation rate possible mechanism link variable scenario high population_density cause intra species competition lead pressure second scenario simple number game high population_density increase probability innovation occur transmit person_person explore population process upper palaeolithic southwest france use proxy radiocarbon_date intra_site lithic density several peak population_region include coincide lgm based data argue region