Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-2l2gl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-01T22:26:00.249Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comments on Bettinger and Baumhoff's Explanation of the “Numic Spread” in the Great Basin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Steven R. Simms
Steven R. Simms*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Bettinger and Baumhoff proposed an explanation for the spread of Numic language groups in the prehistoric Great Basin by appeal to models of optimal foraging and the processes of adaptive competition. In an effort to continue their discussion, I offer comments on their selection and use of Great Basin archaeological evidence, and their use of optimal foraging models. Finally, I identify other problems amenable to their general perspective.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , October 1983 , pp. 825 - 830
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Aikens, C. M. 1970 Hogup Cave. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, Number 92. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Aikens, C. M. 1982 Archaeology of the Northern Great Basin—An Overview. In Man and Environment in the Great Basin, edited by Madsen, D. B. and O'Connell, J. F., pp. 139–155. SAA Papers No. 2. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Bettinger, Robert L. 1977 Aboriginal Human Ecology in Owens Valley, Eastern California: Prehistoric Change in the Great Basin. American Antiquity 43:3–17.Google Scholar
Bettinger, Robert L. 1978 Alternative Adaptive Strategies in the Great Basin Journal of Anthropological Research 34:27–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bettinger, Robert L., and Baumhoff, Martin A. 1982 The Numic Spread: Great Basin Cultures in Competition. American Antiquity 47:485–503.Google Scholar
Elston, Robert G. 1982 Good Times. Hard Times: Prehistoric Culture Change in the Western Great Basin. In Man and Environment in the Great Basin, edited by Madsen, D. B. and O'Connell, J. F., pp. 186–206. SAA Papers No. 2. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Fowler, Don D., Madsen, David B., and Hattori, Eugene M. 1973 Prehistory of Southeastern Nevada. Desert Research Institute Publications in the Social Sciences 6. Reno.Google Scholar
Fry, Gary F. 1976 Analysis of Prehistoric Coprolites from Utah. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 97. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Goss, James A. 1977 Linguistic Tools for the Great Basin Prehistorian. Desert Research Institute Publications in the Social Sciences 12:49–70. Reno.Google Scholar
Jennings, Jesse D. 1957 Danger Cave. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 27. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Jennings, Jesse D. 1980 Cowboy Cave. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 104. University of Utah Press. Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Jennings, Jesse D., Schroedl, Alan R., Holmer, Richard N. 1980 Sudden Shelter. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 103. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Lamb, Sidney 1958 Linguistic Prehistory of the Great Basin. International Journal of American Linguistics 25:95–100.Google Scholar
Lyneis, Margaret M. 1982 Prehistory in the Southern Basin. In Man and Environment in the Great Basin, ediled by Madsenand, D. B. O'Connell, J. F.. pp. 172–185. SAA Papers No. 2. Society for American Archaeology, Washington. D. C.Google Scholar
Madsen, David B. 1982 Get it Where the Gettin's Good—A Variable Model of Great Basin Subsistence and Settlement Basedon Data from the Eastern Great Basin. In Man and Environment in the Great Basin, edited by Madsen, D. B. and O'Connell, J. F., pp. 207–226. SAA Papers No. 2. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Madsen, David B., and Berry, Michael S. 1975 A Reassessment of Northeastern Great Basin Prehistory. American Antiquity 40:391–405.Google Scholar
Mayr, Ernst 1982 The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity. Evolution, and Inheritance. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Napton, Lewis K., and Heizer, Robert F. 1970 Analysis of Human Coprolites from Archaeological Contexts with Primary Reference to Lovelock Cave, Nevada. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 10:87–130.Google Scholar
O'Connell, James F. 1975 The Prehistory of Surprise Valley. Ballena Press Anthropological Papers 4. Google Scholar
O'Connell, James F., Jones, Kevin T., and Simms, Steven R. 1982 Some Thoughts on Prehistoric Archaeology in the Great Basin. In Man and Environment in the Great Basin, edited by Madsen, D. B. and O'Connell, J. F., pp. 227–240. SAA Papers No. 2. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Simms, Steven R. 1983a The Inception of Pine Nut Use in Three Great Basin Cases. Ms. on file, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Simms, Steven R. 1983b The Evolution of Hunter-Gatherer Foraging Strategies: A Great Basin Case. Paper presented at the48th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Pittsburgh. Google Scholar
Thomas, David H. 1973 An Empirical Test for Steward's Model of Great Basin Settlement Patterns. American Antiquity 38:155–176.Google Scholar
Thomas, David H. 1981 Complexity Among Great Basin Shoshoneans: The World's Least Affluent Hunter-Gatherers? In Affluent Foragers: Pacific Coasts East and West. Senri Ethnological Studies, No. 9. Osaka. Google Scholar
Williams, George C. 1966 Adaptation and Natural Selection. Princeton University Press, Princeton.Google Scholar