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    Vogucki

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    Diana Rocio Carvajal Contreras
    vvv

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    of 6
    bunistoraen Broxe Rassey posble. Any of alive than the normally assumed model in which probabl- ityis independent of cine. tis of perhaps passing interestto note that ‘major changes in human behavior for a pat- ticular region are usually faiely uniformly spaced on a ziscale (which canbe used tov ually represent the 2/* probability model), where they are not on a linear scale. We mightargue about the extent to which this is due to our perception of the significance of ‘changes eather than the rate of change isl. For most purposes, however, a nonlinear time scale makes very lle difference to any practical statistical analysis and certainly add to its complication. The only cea bene fircomes when working close tothe limits of any of the dacing techniques, 2 it allows analysis ro cover an unlimited time scale (Bronk Ramsey 2598). suMMaRy ‘The phenomena studied in archaeology are extremely complex, and for this reason it is rarely possible to model them in the analyt- cal sens. Yer such complex systems do ex- hibit some common characteristics; in prcc- tla they show a structure that is born ofthe ‘complexity itself. The kind of strucare that we expect to seein the chronological dimen- sion sa pattem of poretuated dynamic equi- libra operating at alltime seals. To some extent, these patterns can be equated wich the remporal classifications recognized byar- chacologsts since the ninetenth century, fom Thomsen to Monteius. But complexity theory gives us some insight into why thinas do fal ito che patterns that we see and, per haps equally imporcan, it oughe to give us ‘confidence chat these axe not merely the con sructs of our methodology. This approach should norbe confused with positivism, since it does noc claim to be predictive or able co ‘explain direct causal links (MeGlade and van det Leeuw 1997}. What it does dois to in oem us about the typeof framework wenced for the study of chronological information. In order to use compleity theory for sta- tistical analysis, we need to make some a pri ‘ori assumptions. One such model consets of a hierarchy of puneraated dynamic equi ra, At each level ofthe hierarchy the evens are assumed robe essentially random because of che underlying complesicy ofthe mecha nisms, although inthe ease of harman activity there is che obvious feature of aceleated growth of both population and rate of change. Despite the very general formulation ‘ofthis model, it does help us analyze chrono logical daca from the archaeological record, Inparticulayitenables uso incorporate into statstical models the clistering of archseo- logical evens. To some extent this is already being done, bur complexity theory gives usa justilcation for the methods employed and informs us about ways the models can be ‘made more general. Iralso enables uso focus ‘on what is often the most intresting aspect ‘of change: the transition boundaries them. selves, ‘We are, of couse, sil lf withthe prob lem of how to formulate such a model. We hhaveall of the usual problems in archaeology of separating the characteristics ofthe org nal processes ftom the chances of survival and indeed che perspectives. of the te searchers. We must also, since this model i hierarchical, distinguish major long-term events from those that are more transient and Jhave no major impact. In shor, we mustree- ‘ognize temporal structure. In doing so, wedo not need ro explain why or how some events had a major impact while others didnot. Somerimes the most bzazze event can have hhuge ramifications (Bak and Chen 2991). ‘The structure we need to uncover, therefor, is largely the structure thatthe material ev dence presents tous anyway: I the transition from the use of bronze tothe use a ton coin- cides with countless other changes in the ar- chaeological recor, hen, from this perspec: tive it does noe mater if there i causal link between the two; cis clearly a major transi- “The model of hierarchical punctuated dy- ‘namic equilibria can be used both as 3 con- ceptual framework for che understanding of archaeological chronologies and as an ana- Iya cool i cheir statistical analysis. 7 The Neolithic Settlement of Riverine Interior Europe as a Compl lex Adaptive System PETER BOGUCKI Berween 5700 and $090 B.c. (realibrated dating), the first farming communities of cen- teal Eutope were exablished from Slovakia to Feance and from che Danube Valley tothe North European Plain. These setements are primarily, although noc exclusively, associ- fed with fecile wind-blowa sediments called less, found in basins among the hills of imetior Burope. They are best known for theic distinctive pottery, with incised decors tion of fine ware, and for the mber long~ houses thae were the largest free-seanding seracrres in the word 7,500 years ago Since its intial identification over 2 century ag0, the Linear Pottery Culace als known as the [Lnsarbandkeramit, ot LBK) hs been calle “the most classically neolithic inthe ancient world” (Childe 29572106)? The question of how these communities came to be established has resisted explana- tion within eradicional archaeological feame- works. Early hypotheses that the farmers needed to disperse due to soil depletion o widespread population growth have nor been sustained over time (Bogucki 198). Thehigh and persistent fertility ofthe loess did nor require frequent setlement relocation. Al- though there is no doubt that popalation growth occurse it alone does not appear to ‘account forthe rapid dispersal of farming set tlements taroughout a region of over 750,000 Jem, Nor were these commurizes the result ‘of a mass conversion of indigenous foragecs vo sedentary agricultural life, despite a recent resurgence ofthis hypothesis, The material culture ofthe Linese Pottery Caltre is sim ply too anifoem over too wide an area 10 re flee the sorts of variation that might be ex pected if discomected groups of foragers were deciding individually to teansform their ‘uaditional way fife TF, however, ths phenomenon is examined as. complex adaptive system (CAS), it may be posible to understand i better There are many aspects ofthe Linear Porery Culcure that suggese thatthe CAS analytical frame- work would be productive. Some key cle iments of such a2 approach to this problem include the followings + households a agents whose developmen: tal cycle provided 2 “metabolism” that gave the Nedlthc daspors its emergent qualities; ‘+s accumulated experience led to reduced costs ia mistakes, labor, and starc-up ef fort, the early Neolithic farming syscem in ‘central Europe would have been subjectto increasing returns; * iniial noveley was winnowed as increas ing returns locked in results of nitial dee + Sharing of information amoag individuals and houscholds magnified the effects of Tocal decisions andl chance events “This chapter provides a brie sketch of how a CAS approach tothe establishment of farming communities in cental Europe might be developed. As with all CAS ap: proaches, itis not “explanation” in the sense %s Peven B Figure 7.x Riven interoe cena Europe tha this term has been understood in archae ology since the 196ce. Instead, it is an at tempt t idenily the CAS signature inthe ar- chaeological cecord to suggest pathway for fuse research. The developmen of 2 rue CAS model for the spread of the calest farmers of ental Europe will eqnire farther definition of the celevan variables and the construction of mathematical staemeats tha reflect the eelationships among them. It isa promising research field that awaits the collaboration of scholars familiar wth CAS models and archaeologists who know the pattems of archaeological remains RIVERINE INTERIOR CENTRAL EUROPE CCenteal Europe south of the North and Balti Seas and north and east ofthe Alps is era- versed by various river systems (Figure 71), * ‘The southern part ofthis zone is dominated by the upper Danube and its rbutares. The ‘porter paris distinguished by cvers low ing. aorth—the Vistala, Oder, Elbe, Weses, Rhine, and Meuse—along with tributaries suchas the Main, Neckay, Sale, and Nidzica. Lecusalso include che Aisne and che Yonne in the west. Since drainage isthe principal sganizing landscape element ofthis region, it can be called “riverine interior central Es: ope” co distinguish ifrom the mountainous zones cits south and the coastal regions of ‘northern and western Europe. ‘Riverine interior central Europe embraces lover 750,000 kmt, although onlfa relatively small pact ofthat area i dice implicated in early farming setlement. The valleys of these rivers and their triburarié were foci of carly farming seclement after sbout 5700 ‘Tap Neouirmie Serruament oF Ecaors ssc, Valley slopes defined the discibution of foil eypes, and drainage patteens defined foutes of communiation and migration. Pre= ferred babies were smaller sream valleys swith narrow floodplains separated by broad Plateaus. Sizes were located where flood: Plains met the slopes of watersheds. The hill {nd mountain zones of interior central Fi rope did noe play a major cole inthe estab fshmen of agrarian communities in this area ‘tor to about 4200 8. “Early farming selement in eiverne inte ioe central Euzope is commonly associated ‘with patches of loes,a fine-grained, wind: blown sediment deposited during the Plis- tocene. Although very fertile lows is ao el atively dey, except along the valley bottoms ‘where the water table is higher. The associa- Son of early farming serlement with foes may be les che result ofthe deliberate choice ofthis soil rppeand more the fact that specific landscape zones inthe loessfiled basins had the righ combination of moiscare,fetliy, and exposure for growing crops that a few millenia earlier had only grow in pars of the Near Fast. In some areas, such asthe low: lands of the North Exropeaa Plain and the gravel terraces of the Aisne River in France, farly farming setlement is not associated swith primacy loess depesits, suggesting chat other factors were algo taken into account ‘when settlement locations were chosen. INTERREGIONAL HOMOGENEITY, REGIONAL HETEROGENEITY “The Linear Pottery Culture represents the caliet serded agricutusal communities of riverine interior central Europe. Except for several localized anomalies discussed below, there is no widespread antecedent tration of wniform porery production, timber con struction, and grain agrculsce: AMS dating ‘over the last wo decades has led to chrono: logical refinement of the Linear Postery sequence but also some upheaval, “Earliest Linear Porery." once believed to be an ‘ephemeral and rapid inital phase, now has @ suprising persistence and aso a substantial Corpus of setlemen dst. Ie was initially dis tributed from Hungary and Austria to ran- sonia in ezntal Germany and Bohemia be tween ca, s7oc and §$00°8.¢, then on tthe Rhine, north to Niedersachsen, and nozth- cast 0 Silesia, The *Earlie” phase saw the txtension of Linear Poctery settlement ro the Rhineland, Akace, and the Norh European Plain. The “Liter” phase saw further exen sion ta the east and west, as well asthe infil ing of areas where setiement had previously been found. Toe final stages of Later Linear Poteery saw increased regional differentia- ‘on in porery decoration before a transition to subsequent pottery styles lke Stroke- (Omamented Potery, Rossen, and Cerny. ‘When examined on a continental sale, the Linear Poery Culture presens suiking homogensityia material culture, especially in its Earlier phate. Linear Potery incised fine svare for example is immediaeely ecogniza ble whether he sherd comes rom Belgium oc Slovakia, Dimensions and proportions of longhouses are strikingly similar chroughout central Europe after some inisal variation in the Earliest phase (Figure 7.2). Another strike ing feature isthe fact thatthe orientations of the houses ar alzo similar on a beoad re- gional scale, although they shift from Aorhwesesoutheast in central and eastera Eucope to weit-east in westem Europe, The tripartite modular construction rectnique fist observed in Limburg andthe Rhineland is widespreaé in the western zone (Figure 7.3) The paturn of settlement on floodplain ‘margins in smal seam valleys prevails fom Poland to France. Linear Pottery settlements are clustered an several spatial scales to form “srtement cll” separated from other such

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