Origins of domestication

Lecture Overview

ANTH 101, Lecture 18: The Origins of Domestication

  • Focus on the transition from foraging to domestication of plants and animals.

Foragers

  • Characteristics:

    • Highly mobile and often egalitarian society.

    • Neolocality: families establish new residences independent of established kin.

    • Recognize bilateral kinship, allowing flexible band-switching.

  • Exceptions:

    • Resource availability affects mobility; when resources are plentiful, foragers may become sedentary and hierarchical.

      • Example: Joe Jack's observations on resource influence.

Origins of Agriculture

  • Historical context:

    • 11,700 years ago, all humans were foragers living in small bands.

    • Transition to agriculture began during resource scarcity, prompting early attempts at cultivation near camps.

    • Increased population density led to challenges and changes in subsistence strategies.

Worldview Map: Origin of Crops and Domestic Animals

Major Crops and Domesticated Animals by Region

  • North America:

    • Crops: (e.g., Corn)

    • Animals: (e.g., Turkey)

  • Mesoamerica:

    • Crops: Maize, Beans, Squash

    • Animals: None noted

  • Eurasia:

    • Crops: Wheat, Barley, Oats

    • Animals: Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Horse

  • Africa:

    • Crops: (e.g., Sorghum)

    • Animals: Dromedary Camel, Water Buffalo

  • South America:

    • Crops: Potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes

    • Animals: Llama, Alpaca

Domestication Processes

  • Definition:

    • Cultivating plants for food and taming animals to live under human control.

  • Two strategies:

    • Artificial selection to enhance desirable traits.

  • Indicators of Domestication:

    • Phenotypic traits: both physical and behavioral characteristics that distinguish domesticated animals from their wild relatives.

Agricultural Strategies

Horticulture and Pastoralism

  • Horticulturists:

    • Engage in small-scale gardening without machinery.

    • Techniques include slash-and-burn cultivation.

  • Pastoralists:

    • Specialize in animal husbandry while still consuming plants.

    • May move with herds or settle to manage resources effectively.

    • Challenges include land privatization and inter-group conflicts.

Kinship and Societal Structures

Marriage and Family in Pastoralist vs Horticulturalist Societies

  • Differences in marital patterns:

    • Pastoralists often engage in polygyny (multiple wives).

    • Extended family structures aid in collective resource management.

  • Birth rates are higher among pastoralists due to reliance on larger family units for labor.

Descent Systems

Types of Descent

  • Patrilineal: Tracing kinship through the father.

  • Matrilineal: Tracing kinship through the mother.

  • Bilateral: Kinship traced through both parents.

  • Overall approach varies among horticulturalists based on resource inheritance.

Summary

  • The transition to agriculture began during periods of resource scarcity.

  • Horticulturalists utilize methods like shifting cultivation, while pastoralists manage livestock based on seasonal availability.

  • Social structures vary, with pastoralists often exhibiting patrilineal descent and high birth rates related to polygynous practices.

  • Crucial questions for future discussions will focus on the shift to agriculture leading to private land use and associated sociocultural changes.