Chaos in Prehistory
by
Roger Grace
A speculative paper on the potential of Complexity Theory for
the conceptual study of Palaeolithic Archaeology
This paper is based on a seminar given in November 1991 at
the University of Oslo. A lot has happened in the field of Complexity
since then. Consequently this paper will be updated with new text
and graphics as time allows.
CONTENTS
Introduction:
Complexity and lithic variability:
'Almost-intransitive'
systems:
The Neanderthal Problem:
The 'Butterfly Effect':
Determinism or probability
?:
Strange attractors:
Fractal geometry:
Expert systems:
Conclusions:
References