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An Anthropocentric Perspective for Eastern United States Prehistory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Robert L. Hall
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Abstract

Traditional cultural ecology, with its "geocentric" perspective, is most concerned with technological and related social aspects of economic adaptation to the material world. To supplement and qualify this view, an "anthropocentric" perspective with an emphasis on symbolic systems and modes of adaptation to the world as perceived by humans is offered. The cognitive core of culture is expressed in behavior that embodies certain principles underlying figurative expression in language and aspects of magic and taboo, curing practices, mythology, ritual, art, and innovation. An example of the cognitive approach is provided by an analysis of the symbolic systems in which the calumet, atlatl survivals, initiation weapons, and kinnikinnick functioned in historic times. This analysis suggests the possible origin and function of the Hopewellian platform pipe and offers insights into other prehistoric ceremonialism and the process of innovation.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 42 , Issue 4 , October 1977 , pp. 499 - 518
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1977

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