Artifactual Symbols: The Catalytic Role of Material Culture in the Emergence of Symbolic Thought

Abstract

The emergence of symbolic representation during human evolution is a central topic for evolutionary cognitive archaeology. Symbols appear to be intimately related to the behavioral modernity that emerges in human groups after c.500,000 years ago. Archaeologists have traditionally applied theoretical conceptualizations of symbolic representation borrowed from semiotics or cognitive science. I argue that these concepts are not applicable in Pleistocene archaeology. In fact, they also neglect the essential characteristic of symbols: tangibility or potential tangibility. Symbols are artifacts. I propose an artifactual symbol concept. A focus on tangibility provides insight into how symbols scaffolded an enhancement of analytical thinking that ultimately supported the traits associated with behavioral modernity.

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