Using niche construction theory to generate testable foraging hypotheses at Liang Bua. Issue 1 (2nd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veatch, Elizabeth G.; Ringen, Erik J.; Kilgore, Megan B.; Jatmiko,
• Is Part Of: Evolutionary anthropology. Volume 30:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2021-02-02
• Subjects: archaeological theory -- extended evolutionary synthesis -- foraging theory -- Homo floresiensis -- optimal foraging theory -- zooarchaeology; Human evolution -- Periodicals; Anthropology -- Periodicals; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Homme -- Évolution -- Périodiques; Anthropologie -- Périodiques; Écologie humaine -- Périodiques; 599.905
• DOI: 10.1002/evan.21884
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1060-1538

Abstract

Abstract: Niche construction theory (NCT) has emerged as a promising theoretical tool for interpreting zooarchaeological material. However, its juxtaposition against more established frameworks like optimal foraging theory (OFT) has raised important criticism around the testability of NCT for interpreting hominin foraging behavior. Here, we present an optimization foraging model with NCT features designed to consider the destructive realities of the archaeological record after providing a brief review of OFT and NCT. Our model was designed to consider a foragers decision to exploit an environment given predation risk, mortality, and payoff ratios between different ecologies, like more‐open or more‐forested environments. We then discuss how the model can be used with zooarchaeological data for inferring environmental exploitation by a primitive hominin, Homo floresiensis, from the island of Flores in Southeast Asia. Our example demonstrates that NCT can be used in combination with OFT principles to generate testable foraging hypotheses suitable for zooarchaeological research.