The Forager Complexity Lab studies how complex human behavioral patterns such as agriculture, cooperation, and hierarchy evolved among early forager, or hunter-gatherer, societies. Our species’ biological and cultural foundations evolved primarily in forager contexts over some 200 thousand years. The study of ancient forager societies is therefore critical to understanding modern human behavior. To “see” humanity’s deep evolutionary past, the Forager Complexity Lab examines the archaeological record of past forager societies. Our approaches emphasize evolutionary theory, field research, and quantitative methods. Our case studies span over 10,000 years of human history around the globe. Our operations are based largely at the University of California, Davis Department of Anthropology and the Collasuyo Archaeological Research Institute.
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