As humans we are active thinkers and pioneers, creating, manipulating and altering our environments to increase productivity and quality of life. The ability to exchange ideas and to innovate enables the human race to achieve incredible feats, but can also be its downfall. The Eurocentric view of diffusion occurring from one hot spot to many 'underdeveloped' areas has long been debunked BUT applying the principals of diffusion in unbiased ways can be beneficial in discovering ancient social networks.
You will soon learn diffusion effects every aspect of your life, and you didn't even realise it.
You will soon learn diffusion effects every aspect of your life, and you didn't even realise it.
To fully understand how ideas travel, there are a couple of co-concepts that need to be understood.
(More than often there is evidence of a few, not necessarily one or the other)
(More than often there is evidence of a few, not necessarily one or the other)
Culture History Diffusionism
It is the spread of ideas through individuals rather the movement of people, Pots not People, from one or a couple of culture centres.
Pre post-processual Archaeology, diffusionism was used to support the colonel mindset that all invention and innovation was originated from one (Hyperdiffusionism) or a couple culture centre spots (culture circles) in Europe then dispersed from there. As such, most research of this time is dedicated to how Europe was the centre for agriculture and discounted independent invention or lower levels of diffusion as well as other areas it may have occurred.
It is the spread of ideas through individuals rather the movement of people, Pots not People, from one or a couple of culture centres.
Pre post-processual Archaeology, diffusionism was used to support the colonel mindset that all invention and innovation was originated from one (Hyperdiffusionism) or a couple culture centre spots (culture circles) in Europe then dispersed from there. As such, most research of this time is dedicated to how Europe was the centre for agriculture and discounted independent invention or lower levels of diffusion as well as other areas it may have occurred.
Independent Invention
Similar ideas can take place anywhere in the world without being connected to one another.
What makes an idea uniquely yours? The probability that someone thought the same thing as you is incredibly high. So how can archaeologists claim one idea originated in one area when there are many similar things found in the archaeological record all over the world. With the invention of radiocarbon dating, it quickly became obvious that ideas did arise at the same time in unconnected parts of the world. Therefore, there couldn't be a Eurocentric culture centre.
Similar ideas can take place anywhere in the world without being connected to one another.
What makes an idea uniquely yours? The probability that someone thought the same thing as you is incredibly high. So how can archaeologists claim one idea originated in one area when there are many similar things found in the archaeological record all over the world. With the invention of radiocarbon dating, it quickly became obvious that ideas did arise at the same time in unconnected parts of the world. Therefore, there couldn't be a Eurocentric culture centre.
Migration
People are constantly moving, through this lives can be changed and societies altered.
However, if you are studying the migration of a group of people you are studying their movement, the movement of people. The cultural change is therefore measured by human migration not the transmission of ideas. People not Pots.
People are constantly moving, through this lives can be changed and societies altered.
However, if you are studying the migration of a group of people you are studying their movement, the movement of people. The cultural change is therefore measured by human migration not the transmission of ideas. People not Pots.
Diffusion in the 21st century
On multiple levels diffusion can be useful when looking at how ideas evolve. Understanding the roles of migration and independent invention while also considering diffusion can yield interesting results. The world is a big melting pot of ideas some different some the same. Identifying diffusion within smaller communities can help with identifying social networks through trade. Looking at how ideas travel through social media and effect our lives is also diffusion. |
Applying diffusion in Archaeology
A tale of why context is important
A tale of why context is important
This video helps us to get a basic idea of what diffusion is and how it may appear in the archaeological record and why context is important.
Understanding our past is important to understand our present and future because elements of what happened are still happening and continue to. Ideas are constantly occurring and will continue to happen.
In saying this, diffusion with migration and independent invention are all part of a larger picture and all aspects should be explored to gain a greater understanding. Understanding a culture and properly documenting it is important for the people who's history it is, this is why the previous understanding that there were culture circles situated in western areas is not accurate. Many societies that are not western have innovations and inventions that are notable within their own right, uplifting the accomplishments of every society accurately is important to counteract indigenous erasure that has and is happening because of colonialism. Documenting how these ideas traveled within these communities is using diffusion and is valuable, and can help understand trade, war and other altering events within their history.
Understanding our past is important to understand our present and future because elements of what happened are still happening and continue to. Ideas are constantly occurring and will continue to happen.
In saying this, diffusion with migration and independent invention are all part of a larger picture and all aspects should be explored to gain a greater understanding. Understanding a culture and properly documenting it is important for the people who's history it is, this is why the previous understanding that there were culture circles situated in western areas is not accurate. Many societies that are not western have innovations and inventions that are notable within their own right, uplifting the accomplishments of every society accurately is important to counteract indigenous erasure that has and is happening because of colonialism. Documenting how these ideas traveled within these communities is using diffusion and is valuable, and can help understand trade, war and other altering events within their history.
As with everything in Archaeology, multidisciplinary (or in this context, multi-conceptuality) is always best.
Explore all avenues, it is never as simple as it seems.
Explore all avenues, it is never as simple as it seems.
Diffusionism in our lives
A study used genetic analysis of archeological and indigenous maize samples to pinpoint two expansions occurring 2000 and 5000 years ago, spreading through the lowlands of south America. This suggests that cultural transmission was occurring between the populations of central and northern South America.
Read more here: https://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/tipiti/vol11/iss2/7/ |
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