Shennan-type evolution of stone-age cultural innovation

TL;DR

This paper extends Shennan’s computer simulations of stone-age cultural evolution by incorporating random environmental changes, demonstrating that fitness optimization remains feasible under moderate change rates.

Contribution

It introduces environmental variability into existing models, showing how cultural evolution can adapt to changing conditions.

Findings

Fitness optimization persists with moderate environmental change.

Random environmental fluctuations do not prevent cultural evolution.

Model supports adaptability of stone-age cultures under environmental variability.

Abstract

The computer simulations of Shennan (2001) are complemented by assuming the environment to change randomly. For moderate change rates, fitness optimisation through evolution is still possible.