Fitness and Reproductive Trade-Offs in Uncertain Environments: Explaining the Evolution of Cultural Elaboration

Abstract

Dunnell (1989) proposed that cultural elaboration is likely a consequence of selection within uncertain environments. He developed the theory to the extent that it performs well in explaining the distribution of elaboration within eastern North America at regional scales. More detailed studies require development of the theory so that additional hypotheses and implications can be deduced. We draw upon theories of selection in fluctuating environments and theories about reproductive strategies to propose a simple model of selection for cultural elaboration in uncertain environments. The simple model has several general implications for the relationship between fecundity, elaboration, and other archaeological observables, including population age structure, spatial variation and mobility, and the character of environmental variability.