Mating systems in prehistoric populations. An evolutionary approach and archaeological evidence

作者：Przybyla Marcin S^*

来源：Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 2014, 88(1-2): 208-225.

DOI：10.1515/pz.2013.0007

• European prehistory
• Copper Age
• Bronze Age
• mating systems
• marriage strategies
• Darwinian archaeology
• burial analysis

The current state of research suggests that the wide diversity in marriage forms observed in pre-modern societies can be explained as a result of evolutionary pressure. According to this view, both polygyny and monogamy may be considered as competing strategies which will spread under certain circumstances. The objective of this paper is to verify this supposition based on archaeological evidence. For this purpose I will examine detailed information concerning sex ratio and differences in the wealth of grave goods in twelve cemeteries of the Central European Copper and Bronze Age. Then I will compare the results with data related to the degree of wealth inequality and the form of subsistence in the examined populations. It seems that both factors play a key role in the origin of variation in human mating systems.
The preliminary results of this investigation can provide new arguments in the discussion on diversity in marriage forms among ancient Europeans. On the other hand, the comparison of certain elements of archaeological evidence and concepts of human behavioural ecology can contribute to a better understanding of the actual functioning of past populations.

• 出版日期2014