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Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets

We implement a method from computer sciences to address a challenge in Paleolithic archaeology: how to infer cognition differences from material culture. Archaeological material culture is linked to cognition, and more complex ancient technologies are assumed to have required complex cognition. We p...

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Autores principales: Fajardo, Sebastian, Kozowyk, Paul R. B., Langejans, Geeske H. J.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Nature Publishing Group UK 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10516984/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37737280
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42078-1
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author Fajardo, Sebastian
Kozowyk, Paul R. B.
Langejans, Geeske H. J.
author_facet Fajardo, Sebastian
Kozowyk, Paul R. B.
Langejans, Geeske H. J.
author_sort Fajardo, Sebastian
collection PubMed
description We implement a method from computer sciences to address a challenge in Paleolithic archaeology: how to infer cognition differences from material culture. Archaeological material culture is linked to cognition, and more complex ancient technologies are assumed to have required complex cognition. We present an application of Petri net analysis to compare Neanderthal tar production technologies and tie the results to cognitive requirements. We applied three complexity metrics, each relying on their own unique definitions of complexity, to the modeled production processes. Based on the results, we propose that Neanderthal technical cognition may have been analogous to that of contemporary modern humans. This method also enables us to distinguish the high-order cognitive functions combining traits like planning, inhibitory control, and learning that were likely required by different ancient technological processes. The Petri net approach can contribute to our understanding of technology and cognitive evolution as it can be used on different materials and technologies, across time and species.
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spelling pubmed-105169842023-09-24 Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets Fajardo, Sebastian Kozowyk, Paul R. B. Langejans, Geeske H. J. Sci Rep Article We implement a method from computer sciences to address a challenge in Paleolithic archaeology: how to infer cognition differences from material culture. Archaeological material culture is linked to cognition, and more complex ancient technologies are assumed to have required complex cognition. We present an application of Petri net analysis to compare Neanderthal tar production technologies and tie the results to cognitive requirements. We applied three complexity metrics, each relying on their own unique definitions of complexity, to the modeled production processes. Based on the results, we propose that Neanderthal technical cognition may have been analogous to that of contemporary modern humans. This method also enables us to distinguish the high-order cognitive functions combining traits like planning, inhibitory control, and learning that were likely required by different ancient technological processes. The Petri net approach can contribute to our understanding of technology and cognitive evolution as it can be used on different materials and technologies, across time and species. Nature Publishing Group UK 2023-09-22 /pmc/articles/PMC10516984/ /pubmed/37737280 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42078-1 Text en © The Author(s) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) .
spellingShingle Article
Fajardo, Sebastian
Kozowyk, Paul R. B.
Langejans, Geeske H. J.
Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title_full Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title_fullStr Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title_full_unstemmed Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title_short Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets
title_sort measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using petri nets
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10516984/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37737280
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42078-1
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