Some Thoughts about the Evolution of Human Behavior: A Literature Survey

On his death, Arthur Boucot (1924-2017) left an unfinished manuscript in which he surveyed the skeletal, behavioral, and cultural changes that have characterizedaHomoafrom its first recognition in the Late Pliocene to the present. The results, edited after his death, provide a heavily referenced sourcebook for future workers in diverse fields.

On his death, Arthur Boucot (1924-2017) left an unfinished manuscript in which he surveyed the skeletal, behavioural, and cultural changes that have characterized Homo from its first recognition in the Late Pliocene to the present. The subjects he treated were as varied as the preparation of food for infants, the length of intestines, hafting, plastering, use of flint and metals, the domestication of grains and animals, and the prevalence of parasitic diseases. His text repeatedly notes the difficulties imposed by the enormous gaps in both fossil and archaeological records. Boucot deduced a continuity in basic human behaviours from the Oldowan and Acheulian into modern forms, and made a point of including Neandertals and Denisovans. But he also pointed out that morphological changes in successive species of Homo do not coincide in time with major changes in lithic technologies. Boucot concluded that a quantum evolutionary gap separates hominins from the great apes: that members of our line were sapient and had been using language long before they became sapiens. In his text he also indicates his concern for changes to the environment wrought by human activities. The results of this late-life effort, edited after his death, provide a heavily referenced sourcebook for future workers in diverse fields.

"Preface
Introduction
Thesis
First Appearance of 'New' Behaviors or New Technologies?
Taxonomy
Quantum Evolution
Data
Summary
Skeletal Features
Soft-Tissue Evidence with Some Skeletal Basis
Soft-Tissue Evidence Supported by Molecular Information
Soft Tissue Variables with No Skeletal Evidence
Behavioral Features
Physiological Features
Food Processing
Sources of Food
Evidence for Cultivation
Cooking
Gathering and Processing Fruits, Seeds, and other Edible Plant Parts
Hunting and Fishing
Farming
Water Resources
Human-Waste Disposal, Rubbish Disposal, Baths, and Drainage
Behavioral-Technological Innovations
Tools and Materials
Warfare and Interpersonal Violence
Textiles, Clothing, Basketry, Matting, Wooden Containers
Property
Trading and Transport of Materials
Transportation
Fire
Architecture
Measurements and Numbers
Scales, Balances, Weights
Religion
Care of the Handicapped
Communication
Art
Conclusions
Bibliography ", Preface ;

Introduction ;

Thesis ;

First Appearance of ‘New’ Behaviors or New Technologies? ;

Taxonomy ;

Quantum Evolution ;

Data ;

SummarySkeletal FeaturesSoft-Tissue Evidence with Some Skeletal BasisSoft-Tissue Evidence Supported by Molecular InformationSoft Tissue Variables with No Skeletal EvidenceBehavioral FeaturesPhysiological FeaturesFood ProcessingSources of FoodEvidence for CultivationCookingGathering and Processing Fruits, Seeds, and other Edible Plant PartsHunting and FishingFarmingWater ResourcesHuman-Waste Disposal, Rubbish Disposal, Baths, and DrainageBehavioral–Technological InnovationsTools and MaterialsWarfare and Interpersonal ViolenceTextiles, Clothing, Basketry, Matting, Wooden ContainersPropertyTrading and Transport of MaterialsTransportationFireArchitectureMeasurements and NumbersScales, Balances, WeightsReligionCare of the HandicappedCommunicationArt Conclusions ;