Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: testing evolutionary models of learning. Akazawa, T. & Nishiaki, Y., editors RNMH Project Group, Tokyo, 2014. bibtex: AkazawaNishiaki2014Replacementabstract bibtex RNMH2014 is the second international conference for our major research project entitled “Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning” (RNMH). Similar to the first conference held in Tokyo, Japan in 2012, this one aims to compile the latest research investigating the issues surrounding the replacement of those two populations. Understanding this phenomenon of replacement, including clarification of its detailed spatio-temporal processes and interpretation of the mechanism(s) behind them, has been one of the most hotly debated subjects in the recent anthropological literature. Even in the few years directly after launching the RNMH project in 2010, a series of influential findings were newly reported. For example, particularly remarkable achievements were based on ancient genetic studies. DNA analyses of fossil and Modern Human remains have demonstrated the possible occurrence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans in the Paleolithic period.1 Likewise, the presence of another indigenous population in Paleolithic Eurasia, the Denisovans, was identified in eastern Central Asia where the occurrence of Neanderthals was also known.2 On the other hand, archaeological fieldwork has also continuously yielded new insights. Discoveries indicating “modern” Neanderthal behaviors that were previously attributed only to anatomically Modern Humans are at most interesting,3 blurring the behavioral distinction between these two populations. These and other new data indicate that the replacement processes should be considered more complicated than before, certainly rejecting a simple straightforward “replacement” model. At the same time, varied processes, and hence varied mechanisms in each region should be considered. In other words, research in this area today requires more refined perspectives grounded in interpretation of higher resolution data. This recognition is related to one of the two main objectives of this conference, which is giving an opportunity for international colleagues to gather and present state-of-the-art results on these subjects. This opportunity should also be welcomed by RNMH project members to present their research results in an international arena to solicit expert evaluation. The second objective of this conference is to discuss the working hypothesis proposed by the RNMH project, coined as the “learning hypothesis.” The specific goal of this project is to verify this hypothesis within an interdisciplinary research framework incorporating new perspectives and methods from the humanities and biological sciences. It is unique in focusing on possible differences in learning (abilities/strategies/behaviors) between Neanderthal and Modern Human societies. The hypothesis was based on the following reasoning: success or failure of any human society is heavily dependent on culture; culture is transmitted, maintained, and modified through learning; and this premise is probably applicable to human societies during the replacement period as well. Was there any significant difference in learning between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans? If so, clarification is required to explain how and whether it derived from their innate biological difference, social environments, or from both factors. Although the detailed answers will be obtained after much research to come, we believe that it is a significant advantage to look at the broader replacement processes, thus enlarging the dimensions of current debates.
@book{akazawa_replacement_2014,
address = {Tokyo},
title = {Replacement of {Neanderthals} by {Modern} {Humans}: testing evolutionary models of learning},
isbn = {978-4-9906371-0-1},
abstract = {RNMH2014 is the second international conference for our major research project entitled “Replacement of
Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning” (RNMH). Similar to the first
conference held in Tokyo, Japan in 2012, this one aims to compile the latest research investigating the issues
surrounding the replacement of those two populations.
Understanding this phenomenon of replacement, including clarification of its detailed spatio-temporal processes
and interpretation of the mechanism(s) behind them, has been one of the most hotly debated subjects in the
recent anthropological literature. Even in the few years directly after launching the RNMH project in 2010, a
series of influential findings were newly reported. For example, particularly remarkable achievements were based
on ancient genetic studies. DNA analyses of fossil and Modern Human remains have demonstrated the possible
occurrence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans in the Paleolithic period.1
Likewise, the presence of another indigenous population in Paleolithic Eurasia, the Denisovans, was identified in
eastern Central Asia where the occurrence of Neanderthals was also known.2 On the other hand, archaeological
fieldwork has also continuously yielded new insights. Discoveries indicating “modern” Neanderthal behaviors that
were previously attributed only to anatomically Modern Humans are at most interesting,3 blurring the behavioral
distinction between these two populations.
These and other new data indicate that the replacement processes should be considered more complicated than
before, certainly rejecting a simple straightforward “replacement” model. At the same time, varied processes,
and hence varied mechanisms in each region should be considered. In other words, research in this area today
requires more refined perspectives grounded in interpretation of higher resolution data. This recognition is related
to one of the two main objectives of this conference, which is giving an opportunity for international colleagues
to gather and present state-of-the-art results on these subjects. This opportunity should also be welcomed by
RNMH project members to present their research results in an international arena to solicit expert evaluation.
The second objective of this conference is to discuss the working hypothesis proposed by the RNMH project,
coined as the “learning hypothesis.” The specific goal of this project is to verify this hypothesis within an
interdisciplinary research framework incorporating new perspectives and methods from the humanities and
biological sciences. It is unique in focusing on possible differences in learning (abilities/strategies/behaviors)
between Neanderthal and Modern Human societies. The hypothesis was based on the following reasoning:
success or failure of any human society is heavily dependent on culture; culture is transmitted, maintained, and
modified through learning; and this premise is probably applicable to human societies during the replacement
period as well. Was there any significant difference in learning between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern
Humans? If so, clarification is required to explain how and whether it derived from their innate biological
difference, social environments, or from both factors. Although the detailed answers will be obtained after much
research to come, we believe that it is a significant advantage to look at the broader replacement processes, thus
enlarging the dimensions of current debates.},
language = {EN},
publisher = {RNMH Project Group},
editor = {Akazawa, Takeru and Nishiaki, Yoshihiro},
year = {2014},
note = {bibtex: AkazawaNishiaki2014Replacement},
keywords = {@Refbase}
}
Downloads: 0
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Similar to the first conference held in Tokyo, Japan in 2012, this one aims to compile the latest research investigating the issues surrounding the replacement of those two populations. Understanding this phenomenon of replacement, including clarification of its detailed spatio-temporal processes and interpretation of the mechanism(s) behind them, has been one of the most hotly debated subjects in the recent anthropological literature. Even in the few years directly after launching the RNMH project in 2010, a series of influential findings were newly reported. For example, particularly remarkable achievements were based on ancient genetic studies. DNA analyses of fossil and Modern Human remains have demonstrated the possible occurrence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans in the Paleolithic period.1 Likewise, the presence of another indigenous population in Paleolithic Eurasia, the Denisovans, was identified in eastern Central Asia where the occurrence of Neanderthals was also known.2 On the other hand, archaeological fieldwork has also continuously yielded new insights. Discoveries indicating “modern” Neanderthal behaviors that were previously attributed only to anatomically Modern Humans are at most interesting,3 blurring the behavioral distinction between these two populations. These and other new data indicate that the replacement processes should be considered more complicated than before, certainly rejecting a simple straightforward “replacement” model. At the same time, varied processes, and hence varied mechanisms in each region should be considered. In other words, research in this area today requires more refined perspectives grounded in interpretation of higher resolution data. This recognition is related to one of the two main objectives of this conference, which is giving an opportunity for international colleagues to gather and present state-of-the-art results on these subjects. This opportunity should also be welcomed by RNMH project members to present their research results in an international arena to solicit expert evaluation. The second objective of this conference is to discuss the working hypothesis proposed by the RNMH project, coined as the “learning hypothesis.” The specific goal of this project is to verify this hypothesis within an interdisciplinary research framework incorporating new perspectives and methods from the humanities and biological sciences. It is unique in focusing on possible differences in learning (abilities/strategies/behaviors) between Neanderthal and Modern Human societies. The hypothesis was based on the following reasoning: success or failure of any human society is heavily dependent on culture; culture is transmitted, maintained, and modified through learning; and this premise is probably applicable to human societies during the replacement period as well. Was there any significant difference in learning between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans? If so, clarification is required to explain how and whether it derived from their innate biological difference, social environments, or from both factors. 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Similar to the first\nconference held in Tokyo, Japan in 2012, this one aims to compile the latest research investigating the issues\nsurrounding the replacement of those two populations.\nUnderstanding this phenomenon of replacement, including clarification of its detailed spatio-temporal processes\nand interpretation of the mechanism(s) behind them, has been one of the most hotly debated subjects in the\nrecent anthropological literature. Even in the few years directly after launching the RNMH project in 2010, a\nseries of influential findings were newly reported. For example, particularly remarkable achievements were based\non ancient genetic studies. DNA analyses of fossil and Modern Human remains have demonstrated the possible\noccurrence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and anatomically Modern Humans in the Paleolithic period.1\nLikewise, the presence of another indigenous population in Paleolithic Eurasia, the Denisovans, was identified in\neastern Central Asia where the occurrence of Neanderthals was also known.2 On the other hand, archaeological\nfieldwork has also continuously yielded new insights. Discoveries indicating “modern” Neanderthal behaviors that\nwere previously attributed only to anatomically Modern Humans are at most interesting,3 blurring the behavioral\ndistinction between these two populations.\nThese and other new data indicate that the replacement processes should be considered more complicated than\nbefore, certainly rejecting a simple straightforward “replacement” model. At the same time, varied processes,\nand hence varied mechanisms in each region should be considered. 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