6th November 2014, cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances
The Neolithic revolution: the spread of incipient farming across Eurasia, its significance and mathematical interpretation, Dr Anvar Shukurov (School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Newcastle)
Abstract
The Neolithic (10,000–4,500 BC), the last period of the Stone Age, was the dawn of a new era in the development of the human race. Its defining innovation, the transition from foraging to food production based on domesticated cereals and animals, was one of the most important steps made by humanity in moving towards the modern society. Among dramatic changes resulting from the advent of farming were sedentary living, rapid population growth, gradual emergence of the urbanism, division of labour, and the development of complex social structures. Another important technical innovation of the period was the invention of pottery making. The mechanism of the spread of the Neolithic remains an important and fascinating question. The most striking global feature of this process is its regular character, where farming technologies spread from the Near East across Europe and Asia at a well-defined average speed of about 1 km/year.
We discuss modern views of the Neolithic and its significance as well as the advantages and limitations of mathematics-based approaches to
prehistoric archaeology. We continue to describe the fascinating opportunities provided by a fusion of archaeology and mathematical modelling, and present recent insights obtained from such a fusion.
Venue: Room 515, Mathematics Building, University Gardens, University of Glasgow
No charge is made to attend meetings and non-members are welcome.
