Human beings have been copying and reusing culture and technology for approximately 2.6 million years. Access to new cultural advancements have been crucial for all human societies during all of prehistory.
With this presentation I want to give an archaeological perspective on today's issues of free software, free culture, patents and copyright. I am going to give examples on how humans have copied and reused culture and technology through out all of prehistory with concrete archaeological examples, mainly from the stone age. I am also going to show examples of how people have been trying to limit access to ideas and technology for others.
The presentation will focus on these questions:
What does the possibility to copy culture and technology mean for human societies and how does people profit from limiting the access to these cultural traits and technologies for others?
Does culture have an intrinsic wish to be copied? Does culture in fact want to be free?
Keywords: Stone Age, Memes, Cultural transmission.
Public Access through technology; Using archaeological computing to interact ...Paul Cripps
A presentation given at Strode College for students from the University of Plymouth, Truro College and Strode College , aimed at given them an overview on how technology is used to engage with the public using examples from Wessex Archaeology and other sources
This document summarizes a hackerspace called Metalab located in Vienna, Austria. It is a 200 square meter physical space that provides infrastructure like rooms, equipment, communication tools, and events for projects related to electronics, microcontrollers, FPGA/Verilog, Arduino, podcasting, OpenGL, and more. Over 300 users utilize the space, mailing lists, and wiki. The hackerspace is self-financed through small member fees and sponsorships, using an open, collaborative model focused on empowering individuals and groups to pursue technical and creative projects.
Early African history involved people living as hunter-gatherers who later began herding livestock and farming. Around 3000 BC, the Bantu migration spread Bantu people, language, culture, and technology from Nigeria to other parts of Africa. In East Africa, the Kush kingdom developed along the Nile River in Sudan in 800 BC and traded gold, ivory, and iron as far as Egypt. The Axum kingdom located in Ethiopia prospered from trade starting in the AD 300s due to its strategic location on the Red Sea. Axum converted to Christianity in the AD 300s and remained an important center of African Christianity even after losing connections to neighbors in the AD 600s. The Great Zimbabwe civilization supplied gold
DevOps Army of N - Recovering From Being A Human SPOFfunjon
You used to be a single point of failure. You were the solo engineer on a project, which came with some limited prestige, but it was incredibly stressful. Vacations were cancelled, dance recitals were missed, and sleep became a precious resource that you clutched tightly. You may also have developed a phantom buzzing in your phone pocket from all the late-night pages over the years. Survival was a struggle, but you kept soldiering on.
But no longer. Management opened and filled job reqs! New engineers have arrived, eager to learn and help, and the tunnel is suddenly much brighter! Except...
What do you do now?
Last November, I walked through my experiences as a human SPOF, and the strategies I used to survive. In the intervening months, our team has hired several new DevOps engineers, with more on the way. But now we need to get all that knowledge out of my brain, and into a palatable format for consumption by others. At devopsdays SV 2016, I shared some of the challenges encountered in getting new engineers up to speed, when all the knowledge exists solely in my head. Several difficulties exist, affecting both the individual and the team as a whole. Prioritizing projects is complicated, because so much depends on knowledge that exists only in one place. Knowledge transfer can often be disjointed and difficult to organize, because the information is frequently tied up in the chaos of solo operations. And as we've started exploring all the components in our environments, we've revisited the sins of our past - corners cut and shortcuts taken in the interests of getting it done now, versus getting it done cleanly. Many of the tools were designed out of desperation, not with flexibility and maintainability in mind. Now it's time to figure out how to complete that transition, and move toward a more maintainable, survivable environment.
This is a follow-up to my talk from devopsdays SV 2015, entitled DevOps Army of One - How to Survive When You're the SPoF. I really enjoyed giving that talk, and since then I've gained not only some much-needed help, but insight into the difficulties involved in bringing the new engineers online.
Linked Geospatial Data for Archaeological Research Paul Cripps
Investigating Archaeological Research Questions using a Linked Data framework
A presentation given to the Avebury & Stonehenge Archaeological & Historical Research Group, May 2015.
Global impact of the Gender Flip on Partnering PatternsLeanna Wolfe
The document summarizes research on the global impact of women out-earning men on partnering and marriage patterns. Key points include:
- In many countries, women are increasingly achieving higher levels of education and income compared to men.
- This "gender flip" is leading to declines in traditional marriage and partnering norms like hypergamy. Women are more willing to marry less educated or lower earning men.
- In countries like Japan and South Korea, many highly educated women struggle to find partners of equal status and remain single, contributing to low fertility rates.
- Globalization is affecting marriage through trends like "mail order brides" and women migrating for partnering opportunities.
- Independent women have more sexual
Competing with Robots: Making Research Skills Relevant to 21st Century StudentsCathy Cranston
1) The document describes a library contest held at Colorado State University for high school students attending an annual technology event.
2) The original contest asked students to complete an online scavenger hunt using library databases, but it was revised to be more hands-on and interesting for students.
3) The revised contest included interactive modules using tools like Google Docs, infographics, videos and databases to teach students about research skills and information sources in an engaging way.
Public Access through technology; Using archaeological computing to interact ...Paul Cripps
A presentation given at Strode College for students from the University of Plymouth, Truro College and Strode College , aimed at given them an overview on how technology is used to engage with the public using examples from Wessex Archaeology and other sources
This document summarizes a hackerspace called Metalab located in Vienna, Austria. It is a 200 square meter physical space that provides infrastructure like rooms, equipment, communication tools, and events for projects related to electronics, microcontrollers, FPGA/Verilog, Arduino, podcasting, OpenGL, and more. Over 300 users utilize the space, mailing lists, and wiki. The hackerspace is self-financed through small member fees and sponsorships, using an open, collaborative model focused on empowering individuals and groups to pursue technical and creative projects.
Early African history involved people living as hunter-gatherers who later began herding livestock and farming. Around 3000 BC, the Bantu migration spread Bantu people, language, culture, and technology from Nigeria to other parts of Africa. In East Africa, the Kush kingdom developed along the Nile River in Sudan in 800 BC and traded gold, ivory, and iron as far as Egypt. The Axum kingdom located in Ethiopia prospered from trade starting in the AD 300s due to its strategic location on the Red Sea. Axum converted to Christianity in the AD 300s and remained an important center of African Christianity even after losing connections to neighbors in the AD 600s. The Great Zimbabwe civilization supplied gold
DevOps Army of N - Recovering From Being A Human SPOFfunjon
You used to be a single point of failure. You were the solo engineer on a project, which came with some limited prestige, but it was incredibly stressful. Vacations were cancelled, dance recitals were missed, and sleep became a precious resource that you clutched tightly. You may also have developed a phantom buzzing in your phone pocket from all the late-night pages over the years. Survival was a struggle, but you kept soldiering on.
But no longer. Management opened and filled job reqs! New engineers have arrived, eager to learn and help, and the tunnel is suddenly much brighter! Except...
What do you do now?
Last November, I walked through my experiences as a human SPOF, and the strategies I used to survive. In the intervening months, our team has hired several new DevOps engineers, with more on the way. But now we need to get all that knowledge out of my brain, and into a palatable format for consumption by others. At devopsdays SV 2016, I shared some of the challenges encountered in getting new engineers up to speed, when all the knowledge exists solely in my head. Several difficulties exist, affecting both the individual and the team as a whole. Prioritizing projects is complicated, because so much depends on knowledge that exists only in one place. Knowledge transfer can often be disjointed and difficult to organize, because the information is frequently tied up in the chaos of solo operations. And as we've started exploring all the components in our environments, we've revisited the sins of our past - corners cut and shortcuts taken in the interests of getting it done now, versus getting it done cleanly. Many of the tools were designed out of desperation, not with flexibility and maintainability in mind. Now it's time to figure out how to complete that transition, and move toward a more maintainable, survivable environment.
This is a follow-up to my talk from devopsdays SV 2015, entitled DevOps Army of One - How to Survive When You're the SPoF. I really enjoyed giving that talk, and since then I've gained not only some much-needed help, but insight into the difficulties involved in bringing the new engineers online.
Linked Geospatial Data for Archaeological Research Paul Cripps
Investigating Archaeological Research Questions using a Linked Data framework
A presentation given to the Avebury & Stonehenge Archaeological & Historical Research Group, May 2015.
Global impact of the Gender Flip on Partnering PatternsLeanna Wolfe
The document summarizes research on the global impact of women out-earning men on partnering and marriage patterns. Key points include:
- In many countries, women are increasingly achieving higher levels of education and income compared to men.
- This "gender flip" is leading to declines in traditional marriage and partnering norms like hypergamy. Women are more willing to marry less educated or lower earning men.
- In countries like Japan and South Korea, many highly educated women struggle to find partners of equal status and remain single, contributing to low fertility rates.
- Globalization is affecting marriage through trends like "mail order brides" and women migrating for partnering opportunities.
- Independent women have more sexual
Competing with Robots: Making Research Skills Relevant to 21st Century StudentsCathy Cranston
1) The document describes a library contest held at Colorado State University for high school students attending an annual technology event.
2) The original contest asked students to complete an online scavenger hunt using library databases, but it was revised to be more hands-on and interesting for students.
3) The revised contest included interactive modules using tools like Google Docs, infographics, videos and databases to teach students about research skills and information sources in an engaging way.
The document discusses the origins of modern humans. It describes two main models - the multiregional model which suggests simultaneous evolution in different parts of the world, and the Out of Africa model which explains a common origin from a small population in Africa around 200,000 years ago that then spread to other continents. Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome support the Out of Africa model with a recent African origin for all humans between 100,000-200,000 years ago.
21st Century Geospatial #HistEnv Data ManagementPaul Cripps
A keynote presentation given at the Towards a Collaborative Strategy for sector information management (TACOS) seminar held at the University of York, May 2014
Presentation given at the Computer Applications in Archaeology UK Chapter Meeting, April 2011, held at the University of Birmingham.
The subject is the use of terrestrial and airborne laser scanners in heritage contexts.
Detección de bordes de una imagen en Matlablmarchenac01
Este documento describe los métodos teóricos y prácticos para la detección de bordes en imágenes digitales. Explica cómo se pueden aproximar las derivadas mediante diferencias finitas y cómo el gradiente de una imagen mide las variaciones locales de intensidad que indican bordes. Luego compara diferentes filtros como Prewitt y Canny para mejorar la detección de bordes y explica cómo aplicar estos métodos a imágenes a color descomponiéndolas en canales RGB.
Social Media for Reseachers #sotondiglitNicole Beale
Quick fire presentation presented at the Digital Literacies conference at the University of Southampton, 14th June 2012. Idea for a workshop to be held on the 4th July. http://www.diglit.soton.ac.uk/events/social-media-for-researchers/
SDI: A prespective from a UK archaeological unitPaul Cripps
Wessex Archaeology is exploring the benefits of implementing a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to better manage their large volumes of spatial archaeological data. An SDI would improve data quality, accessibility, and efficiency by integrating disparate resources through common technology standards and policies. Wessex Archaeology has begun implementing an SDI using tools like ArcGIS, QGIS and GeoServer to capture, store, analyze and share spatial data both internally and with external partners and databases. Further adoption of SDI approaches across the heritage sector could maximize data sharing and reuse.
The Middle Stone Age was a period of human development in Africa between 280,000-50,000 years ago where particular stone tools originated. It was once thought to be equivalent to Europe's Middle Paleolithic but evidence of art and symbols in the MSA has challenged this view. The Neolithic period began around 10,200 BC in the Middle East and later elsewhere, ending between 4,500-2,000 BC. It followed the Epipaleolithic and saw the beginning of farming in the Neolithic Revolution. During this time, wild crops and domesticated animals came into use.
To OO or not to OO? Revelations from defining an ontology for an archaeologic...Paul Cripps
A presentation given by Keith May and me at CAA 2004 held in Prato, Italy. The topic was a sub-project which emerged from the English Heritage Revelation project; the Ontological Modelling project. This project looked at a range of existing data models, paper forms, databases and other source information and through discussions with domain specialists, created a representation of the information archaeologists use based on the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM).
This document provides guidance for an ANTH140: Introduction to Prehistory essay assignment at Colorado State University. It outlines resources for researching prehistoric cultures, including using reference books, academic databases, and evaluating websites. Students are instructed to pick a culture to research, use the Encyclopedia of Prehistory as a starting point, search the library catalog and databases for additional sources, and properly cite sources using a consistent documentation style.
The document discusses early human history from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Revolution. [1] The first humans originated in Africa over 2 million years ago during the Paleolithic Age. [2] Paleolithic people were nomadic hunter-gatherers who moved to find food and developed simple tools and weapons. [3] They began developing language, clothing, and spiritual beliefs that included burying the dead with items. [4] One of the earliest known human skeletons was discovered in Africa. [5] During the Neolithic Revolution, humans began settling and farming, leading to cultural diffusion as people migrated across land bridges and by boat.
Computer Applications in Archaeology Seminar SeriesPaul Cripps
The seminar titled "The use of Spatial Technologies and digital techniques in Archaeology" will be presented by Paul Cripps in the Sara Champion Room of the Archaeology Building on November 21st at 1pm. The lecture will cover the use of CAD, GIS, mobile field recording, laser scanning, and web-based GIS in archaeology, as well as systems development using custom tools and the influence of ontologies. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.
Examines the impact of home sharing on hosts, travelers, neighborhoods and the Airbnb organization. Presented at the Airbnb Open in Paris on Nov. 12 and 13.
The document summarizes and discusses the two main theories for the origin of Homo sapiens: Out of Africa and multiregional. The Out of Africa theory proposes that Homo erectus migrated from Africa and evolved separately in different regions, with Homo sapiens emerging only in Africa and later migrating to replace other populations. The multiregional theory suggests that Homo erectus populations evolved into Homo sapiens across different regions simultaneously through interbreeding. While both theories are discussed, the document expresses a personal support for the Out of Africa theory based on perceived stronger evidence.
There are two main competing theories for early human origins: the multiregional hypothesis and the Out-of-Africa hypothesis. The multiregional hypothesis proposes that modern humans evolved simultaneously from early Homo species in different regions with gene flow between populations. The Out-of-Africa hypothesis suggests that anatomically modern humans arose in Africa and later migrated out, replacing indigenous populations. Evidence from morphology, archaeology, and genetics has been debated, but recent genetic studies provide support for multiple migrations out of Africa with some limited interbreeding.
The Out-of-Africa theory suggests that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa around 100,000-200,000 years ago and then migrated throughout the world, replacing earlier hominin species. Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and microsatellite DNA analyses indicate that all modern human populations outside of Africa can be traced back to a common ancestral population that lived in Africa relatively recently, between 100,000-150,000 years ago. This supports the theory that modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated throughout the world.
Pathways through the Avebury Landscape; A study of spatial relationships asso...Paul Cripps
This project is an investigation into the spatial relationships associated with the
Beckhampton Avenue, Avebury, Wilts. through the Neolithic period; The study
region comprises the Beckhampton avenue and its environs. Notably, the study will
attempt to investigate dynamic spatial relationships, i.e. those associated with moving
around/through a landscape rather than from static viewpoints, as a means to shed
light on the position and development of the Beckhampton Avenue, which can be
seen as a formalised route, influencing movement. These relationships are to be
investigated by means of the concept of intervisibility using both the analytical
approach afforded by GIS techniques and a more subjective, reflexive approach
facilitated by an interactive three-dimensional model.
Drawing from findings of a survey conducted by Dr. Leanna Wolfe and funded by Avid Media, the owner of the Ashley Madison website, recent trends towards increased openness about anal sex are dissected. Ultimately an interest in anal play among married heterosexuals is not a significant motivator towards cheating. Non-kink identified respondents engaged in anal pleasuring on average a couple of times a year.
GeoSemantic Technologies for Archaeological ResourcesPaul Cripps
The semantics of heritage data is a growing area of interest with ontologies such as the CIDOC-CRM providing semantic frameworks and exemplary projects such as STAR and STELLAR demonstrating what can be done using semantic technologies applied to archaeological resources. In the world of the Semantic Web, advances regarding geosemantics have emerged to extend research more fully into the spatio-temporal domain, for example extending the SPARQL standard to produce GeoSPARQL. Importantly, the use of semantic technologies, particularly the structure of RDF, aligns with graph and network based approaches, providing a rich fusion of techniques for geospatial analysis of heritage data expressed in such a manner.
This paper gives an overview of the ongoing G-STAR research project (GeoSemantic Technologies for Archaeological Resources) with reference to broader sectoral links particularly to commercial archaeology. Particular attention is paid to examining the integration of spatial data into the heritage Global Graph and the relationship between Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and Linked Data, moving beyond notions of ‘location’ as simple nodes, placenames and coordinates towards fuller support for complex geometries and advanced spatial reasoning. Finally, the potential impacts of such research is discussed with particular reference to the current practice of commercial archaeology, access to and publishing of (legacy, big) data, and leveraging network models to better understand and manage change within archaeological information systems.
This document defines archaeology and outlines its aims, scope, and relevance. Archaeology is defined as the study of past human cultures through their material remains. The aims of archaeology are to reconstruct extinct cultures and understand cultural changes by studying artifacts and sites. The scope of archaeology is broad, including fieldwork, exploration, and analysis of tangible evidence. Archaeology's relevance includes providing information on the past, fostering cultural heritage and national pride, and supporting conservation, tourism, and jobs.
Digital Archaeological Landscapes & Replicated Artifacts: Questions of Analyt...Ashley M. Richter
This document discusses issues related to digitizing cultural heritage through 3D modeling and virtual/augmented reality. It raises questions about the authenticity and value of digital replicas compared to original artifacts. It also addresses ethical concerns regarding data transparency, intellectual property, public access, and how digitization may impact archaeology and museums. The author advocates for balancing open access with quality control and guiding users to find meaning amid large data sets, in order to advance both technology and policy in a responsible manner.
The document discusses the origins of modern humans. It describes two main models - the multiregional model which suggests simultaneous evolution in different parts of the world, and the Out of Africa model which explains a common origin from a small population in Africa around 200,000 years ago that then spread to other continents. Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome support the Out of Africa model with a recent African origin for all humans between 100,000-200,000 years ago.
21st Century Geospatial #HistEnv Data ManagementPaul Cripps
A keynote presentation given at the Towards a Collaborative Strategy for sector information management (TACOS) seminar held at the University of York, May 2014
Presentation given at the Computer Applications in Archaeology UK Chapter Meeting, April 2011, held at the University of Birmingham.
The subject is the use of terrestrial and airborne laser scanners in heritage contexts.
Detección de bordes de una imagen en Matlablmarchenac01
Este documento describe los métodos teóricos y prácticos para la detección de bordes en imágenes digitales. Explica cómo se pueden aproximar las derivadas mediante diferencias finitas y cómo el gradiente de una imagen mide las variaciones locales de intensidad que indican bordes. Luego compara diferentes filtros como Prewitt y Canny para mejorar la detección de bordes y explica cómo aplicar estos métodos a imágenes a color descomponiéndolas en canales RGB.
Social Media for Reseachers #sotondiglitNicole Beale
Quick fire presentation presented at the Digital Literacies conference at the University of Southampton, 14th June 2012. Idea for a workshop to be held on the 4th July. http://www.diglit.soton.ac.uk/events/social-media-for-researchers/
SDI: A prespective from a UK archaeological unitPaul Cripps
Wessex Archaeology is exploring the benefits of implementing a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to better manage their large volumes of spatial archaeological data. An SDI would improve data quality, accessibility, and efficiency by integrating disparate resources through common technology standards and policies. Wessex Archaeology has begun implementing an SDI using tools like ArcGIS, QGIS and GeoServer to capture, store, analyze and share spatial data both internally and with external partners and databases. Further adoption of SDI approaches across the heritage sector could maximize data sharing and reuse.
The Middle Stone Age was a period of human development in Africa between 280,000-50,000 years ago where particular stone tools originated. It was once thought to be equivalent to Europe's Middle Paleolithic but evidence of art and symbols in the MSA has challenged this view. The Neolithic period began around 10,200 BC in the Middle East and later elsewhere, ending between 4,500-2,000 BC. It followed the Epipaleolithic and saw the beginning of farming in the Neolithic Revolution. During this time, wild crops and domesticated animals came into use.
To OO or not to OO? Revelations from defining an ontology for an archaeologic...Paul Cripps
A presentation given by Keith May and me at CAA 2004 held in Prato, Italy. The topic was a sub-project which emerged from the English Heritage Revelation project; the Ontological Modelling project. This project looked at a range of existing data models, paper forms, databases and other source information and through discussions with domain specialists, created a representation of the information archaeologists use based on the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM).
This document provides guidance for an ANTH140: Introduction to Prehistory essay assignment at Colorado State University. It outlines resources for researching prehistoric cultures, including using reference books, academic databases, and evaluating websites. Students are instructed to pick a culture to research, use the Encyclopedia of Prehistory as a starting point, search the library catalog and databases for additional sources, and properly cite sources using a consistent documentation style.
The document discusses early human history from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Revolution. [1] The first humans originated in Africa over 2 million years ago during the Paleolithic Age. [2] Paleolithic people were nomadic hunter-gatherers who moved to find food and developed simple tools and weapons. [3] They began developing language, clothing, and spiritual beliefs that included burying the dead with items. [4] One of the earliest known human skeletons was discovered in Africa. [5] During the Neolithic Revolution, humans began settling and farming, leading to cultural diffusion as people migrated across land bridges and by boat.
Computer Applications in Archaeology Seminar SeriesPaul Cripps
The seminar titled "The use of Spatial Technologies and digital techniques in Archaeology" will be presented by Paul Cripps in the Sara Champion Room of the Archaeology Building on November 21st at 1pm. The lecture will cover the use of CAD, GIS, mobile field recording, laser scanning, and web-based GIS in archaeology, as well as systems development using custom tools and the influence of ontologies. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.
Examines the impact of home sharing on hosts, travelers, neighborhoods and the Airbnb organization. Presented at the Airbnb Open in Paris on Nov. 12 and 13.
The document summarizes and discusses the two main theories for the origin of Homo sapiens: Out of Africa and multiregional. The Out of Africa theory proposes that Homo erectus migrated from Africa and evolved separately in different regions, with Homo sapiens emerging only in Africa and later migrating to replace other populations. The multiregional theory suggests that Homo erectus populations evolved into Homo sapiens across different regions simultaneously through interbreeding. While both theories are discussed, the document expresses a personal support for the Out of Africa theory based on perceived stronger evidence.
There are two main competing theories for early human origins: the multiregional hypothesis and the Out-of-Africa hypothesis. The multiregional hypothesis proposes that modern humans evolved simultaneously from early Homo species in different regions with gene flow between populations. The Out-of-Africa hypothesis suggests that anatomically modern humans arose in Africa and later migrated out, replacing indigenous populations. Evidence from morphology, archaeology, and genetics has been debated, but recent genetic studies provide support for multiple migrations out of Africa with some limited interbreeding.
The Out-of-Africa theory suggests that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa around 100,000-200,000 years ago and then migrated throughout the world, replacing earlier hominin species. Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and microsatellite DNA analyses indicate that all modern human populations outside of Africa can be traced back to a common ancestral population that lived in Africa relatively recently, between 100,000-150,000 years ago. This supports the theory that modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated throughout the world.
Pathways through the Avebury Landscape; A study of spatial relationships asso...Paul Cripps
This project is an investigation into the spatial relationships associated with the
Beckhampton Avenue, Avebury, Wilts. through the Neolithic period; The study
region comprises the Beckhampton avenue and its environs. Notably, the study will
attempt to investigate dynamic spatial relationships, i.e. those associated with moving
around/through a landscape rather than from static viewpoints, as a means to shed
light on the position and development of the Beckhampton Avenue, which can be
seen as a formalised route, influencing movement. These relationships are to be
investigated by means of the concept of intervisibility using both the analytical
approach afforded by GIS techniques and a more subjective, reflexive approach
facilitated by an interactive three-dimensional model.
Drawing from findings of a survey conducted by Dr. Leanna Wolfe and funded by Avid Media, the owner of the Ashley Madison website, recent trends towards increased openness about anal sex are dissected. Ultimately an interest in anal play among married heterosexuals is not a significant motivator towards cheating. Non-kink identified respondents engaged in anal pleasuring on average a couple of times a year.
GeoSemantic Technologies for Archaeological ResourcesPaul Cripps
The semantics of heritage data is a growing area of interest with ontologies such as the CIDOC-CRM providing semantic frameworks and exemplary projects such as STAR and STELLAR demonstrating what can be done using semantic technologies applied to archaeological resources. In the world of the Semantic Web, advances regarding geosemantics have emerged to extend research more fully into the spatio-temporal domain, for example extending the SPARQL standard to produce GeoSPARQL. Importantly, the use of semantic technologies, particularly the structure of RDF, aligns with graph and network based approaches, providing a rich fusion of techniques for geospatial analysis of heritage data expressed in such a manner.
This paper gives an overview of the ongoing G-STAR research project (GeoSemantic Technologies for Archaeological Resources) with reference to broader sectoral links particularly to commercial archaeology. Particular attention is paid to examining the integration of spatial data into the heritage Global Graph and the relationship between Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and Linked Data, moving beyond notions of ‘location’ as simple nodes, placenames and coordinates towards fuller support for complex geometries and advanced spatial reasoning. Finally, the potential impacts of such research is discussed with particular reference to the current practice of commercial archaeology, access to and publishing of (legacy, big) data, and leveraging network models to better understand and manage change within archaeological information systems.
This document defines archaeology and outlines its aims, scope, and relevance. Archaeology is defined as the study of past human cultures through their material remains. The aims of archaeology are to reconstruct extinct cultures and understand cultural changes by studying artifacts and sites. The scope of archaeology is broad, including fieldwork, exploration, and analysis of tangible evidence. Archaeology's relevance includes providing information on the past, fostering cultural heritage and national pride, and supporting conservation, tourism, and jobs.
Digital Archaeological Landscapes & Replicated Artifacts: Questions of Analyt...Ashley M. Richter
This document discusses issues related to digitizing cultural heritage through 3D modeling and virtual/augmented reality. It raises questions about the authenticity and value of digital replicas compared to original artifacts. It also addresses ethical concerns regarding data transparency, intellectual property, public access, and how digitization may impact archaeology and museums. The author advocates for balancing open access with quality control and guiding users to find meaning amid large data sets, in order to advance both technology and policy in a responsible manner.
The document discusses trends in communicating culture in museums, using the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. as a case study. When designing the museum, native leaders wanted it to tell the truth. The architects incorporated native sensibilities and traditions throughout the building. The museum's architecture corresponds to the elders' ideals of representing culture internally and externally. The website and exhibitions mirror the architectural ambitions of representing culture.
Can We Curate Intangible Cultural Heritage in Collections Management Systems? AWest Muse
Online collections management systems have the unprecedented ability to curate information from web- based sources beyond museum walls, ranging from video, photo, oral history, and library archives to content contributed by users themselves. Presenters will share how intangible cultural heritage, like performances, stories, language, relationships, and cultural values, can be documented and integrated into our collection systems, allowing users to understand our collections and the people they represent in new ways. #diggingdeeper
This document discusses architectural conservation and cultural heritage management. It provides definitions of architectural conservation as conserving valuable architectures and their values. It also defines cultural heritage as the invaluable achievements of humans over centuries that represent their culture. The document discusses using new technologies like photogrammetry and digital tools to better document cultural heritage for identification and preservation purposes. It notes the benefits of photogrammetry include non-contact measurement, precision, and use in restoration projects. The document also discusses defining and characterizing culture, including how culture is learned, shared, cumulative, dynamic, and diverse. It notes cultural heritage is valued for its aesthetics, spirituality, history, symbols, and connection to identity.
This document provides the program for a public symposium on "DNA & Indigeneity: The Changing Role of Genetics in Indigenous Rights, Tribal Belonging, and Repatriation". The symposium includes sessions on constructing biogenetic identities and their limitations, the role of genetics in the repatriation of human remains, and challenges and directions for genetic research with Indigenous communities. Speakers include experts from various Indigenous communities and academic institutions discussing case studies and issues relating to the use of genetics in determining Indigenous identity and rights, as well as repatriation efforts.
Some critics may have you believe that computer game studies lack theoretical rigor, that games cannot afford meaningful experiences. I agree with them, sometimes, but I also believe that a richer understanding of computer games is possible, and that this understanding can shed some light on related issues in the wider field of Digital Humanities.
My main area of research has been designing and evaluating how contextually appropriate interaction can aid the understanding of cultures distant in time, space, and in understanding to our own. This field is sometimes called Virtual Heritage. In Virtual Heritage, tools of choice are typically virtual reality environments, and the projects are very large in scale, complexity, and cost, while my projects are often prototypes and experimental designs. I have many challenges, for example, morphing technological constraints into cultural affordances, and avoiding possible confusion between artistic artifice and historical accuracy, all the while evaluating intangible concepts in a systematic way without disturbing the participants’ sense of immersion. To help me judge the success or failure of these projects I have shaped some working definitions of games, culture, cultural understanding, cultural inhabitation, and place. However, these concepts and definitions are not enough. I also have to now tackle the issues of simulated violence, artificial “other” people, the temptation of entertainment masquerading as education, and the difficulties inherent in virtually evoking a sense of ritual.
My lecture, then, is a discussion into how game-based learning, and the study of culture, heritage and history, might meaningfully intersect.
Reprioritising our values to recognise culture for its true value | Biocity S...Biocity Studio
Our culture is continually changing due to the impact of migration patterns. Many languages are now spoken in Australia. Attempts have been made to measure ‘culture’ through a range of indices: Florida, Monocle and Anholt, but are subjective to cultural bias.
ICOM Moscow 2014 with audio - The Virtual MuseumSusan Hazan
The document discusses the definition and qualities of a virtual museum. It summarizes initial work by the V-Must network to rethink the concept of virtual museums in light of emerging digital technologies. The network has identified and mapped tools and services that define and support virtual museums in the heritage sector. A virtual museum is defined as a digital entity that draws on characteristics of a physical museum to complement, enhance, or augment the museum experience through personalization, interactivity and rich content. Virtual museums can act as the digital presence of a physical museum or independently while maintaining the authoritative status of museums as defined by ICOM.
Architectural Means of Expression in the Creation of Contemporary Heritage In...Anna Rynkowska-Sachse
This document discusses architectural means of expression in creating contemporary heritage interpretation centres, using examples from South Africa. It summarizes the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre, which envisions the local heritage through its building design that merges with the landscape, allows views of the archaeological site, and was inspired by local structures and artefacts. It also discusses the Alexandra Interpretation Centre, which connects to the surrounding township through its design and programming, and Freedom Park museum complex, which links historical elements across the landscape with a spiral path honoring indigenous knowledge. Architectural design and non-architectural features are used at these sites to stimulate understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage.
This document discusses cultural heritage and defines it as the creative expression of a people's existence in the past, near past, and present that tells their traditions, beliefs, and achievements. It notes that cultural heritage includes both tangible and intangible forms. Tangible heritage can be physically touched, like monuments and objects, while intangible heritage includes non-physical forms like music, dance, languages, and traditions. The document emphasizes that cultural heritage is important because it conveys identity and values, is unique, can support economic development, and helps people understand cultural diversity.
This document summarizes a research study on accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in museums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study examines how the senses and sensations experienced by persons with disabilities impact their ability to access and feel included in historical patrimonial museums. The researchers conducted ethnographic observations and interviews with disabled persons visiting museums, to understand their sensory experiences of the museum atmospheres and identify physical, informational, and sensory barriers to accessibility. The goal is to help museums improve inclusion and universal design to allow all people to fully experience the cultural assets.
Walled Cities, Open Societies - 2nd meeting of the Regional Network on the Ma...UNESCO Venice Office
This document provides an overview of conceptual tools and management tools for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in urban contexts. It discusses key concepts from the 2003 UNESCO ICH Convention such as the dynamic nature of ICH and the primary role of communities in determining significance and threats. Specific tools are presented, including ethical principles, a results map, and a step-by-step process for developing safeguarding plans. The Yamohoko float procession from Kyoto, Japan is used as a case study. In conclusion, the document advocates for integrated management of tangible and intangible heritage that promotes community involvement and sustainable development.
Collaborative concepts surrounding Evidence-based Art, the evolution of Art and Neuroaesthetics regarding Patient-Focused practices in the Health Care industry.
First workshop of the REFIT project (refitproject.com) - Bibracte, March 2016
Exploring integrated approaches to cultural landscapes
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This document summarizes a presentation on the cultural heritage tourism potential of Nicosia, Cyprus. It discusses:
1) The current situation of tourism in Cyprus and Nicosia, which is dominated by sun/beach tourism.
2) The cultural attractions within Nicosia's walled city, which have potential to diversify tourism but are currently underutilized. An empirical study found visitors have low awareness of attractions and there is room to improve the visitor experience.
3) Strategies discussed to better develop and promote Nicosia's cultural heritage tourism potential, such as improving wayfinding, increasing event programming and performances, and leveraging local culture and food. The presentation concludes Nicosia has
Episode 5(5): Mnemonics and the rise of social complexity - Meetup session 20William Hall
This is the 20th of 23 presentations in a series introducing and outlining my hypertext book project, "Application Holy Wars or a New Reformation - A Fugue on the Theory of Knowledge". The project explores the interactions of technology and cognition in the extraordinary evolutionary history of the human species.
It is probable that the rise of social complexity in the development of agricultural and industrial economies required a major revolution in the social capacity to accumulate and manage the transmission of "working" (i.e., technical) knowledge. There is interesting evidence assembled by the Australian science writer, Lynne Kelly, that this revolution was based initially on a technology (defined as the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area) based (1) on the construction and use of monumental theaters of the mind for effectively indexing objects of knowledge in living memory and (2) the practice within or around those theaters of particular social rituals for the accurate learning, maintenance, and transfer of those memory objects. This technology enabled initiates to store, manage, and accurately propagate a body of knowledge orders of magnitude larger than could be maintained by uninitiated.
For several thousands of years before the invention of counting tokens and symbolic and alphabetic scripts enabled knowledge to be objectified and stored by durable objects, such mnemonic technologies supported the emergence and maintenance of complex agricultural economies and specialized industries involved in the establishment of city states and state religions.
This session explains the circumstances of the Agricultural Revolution in the Neolithic and how mnemonic technologies extended the geospacial indexing and navigating capabilities that seem to be basic functions in the mammalian brain.
Similar to Cultural Transmission from an Archaeological Perspective (20)
Libssh2 is an open source C library for SSH2 connections that was created in 2004 to fill the need for an embeddable SSH library. It aims to provide a small, portable library for SSH functionality like SCP and SFTP in a non-blocking manner. The presentation discusses the background and design of libssh2 as well as opportunities for future contributors to the project.
The document discusses the history and development of Rockbox, an open source alternative operating system for portable media players. It began in 2001 to provide more customization and freedom than the default firmware. Over 50 models of players have been supported by analyzing the hardware, writing a bootloader, and developing Rockbox's small OS. Key features discussed include music playback support, plugins, themes, and an international community of hundreds of contributors.
The document discusses the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) used by radio amateurs for tracking and rescue services. APRS uses GPS and packet radio to transmit position reports over VHF radio networks and the internet. It describes the infrastructure including trackers, repeaters, and internet gateways. The document also outlines projects by a Norwegian group to develop a compact Polaric tracker and web application to display APRS data on maps. It provides examples of how APRS tracking has supported rescue operations and discusses ongoing work to improve the system.
As you most likely are aware of everything you do with a computer system might be logged and tracked in every last minute detail if you or someone else decide to do so. What most users are not aware of though is all the traces and data that you leave behind although none asked for it.
This talk will give the audience an insight in the world of invisible surveillance and what kind of tracks we leave behind by merely using a computer system. The audience will also be introduced to how this data can be extracted and how the authorities, the employer or the user can benefit from this. The talk ends with a few examples of how to protect yourself from leaving unwanted traces behind.
The Telecom companies is still blocking free calls. I would like to present and promote that there is techniques that will make VoIP calls as free as Emails are.
The standards that is presented is SIP URI and DNS SRV and with these combined can a company have the same VoIP & Email address.
The document discusses configuring and building Qt for different targets, including:
- Configuring Qt for X11 on the host system
- Configuring Qt for QVFb to run on the host with emulated devices
- Configuring Qt for an embedded Linux target which will run on the target device
It provides options for the configure script to customize Qt for each target.
This document contains the schedule for talks and workshops occurring on Saturday at the FSCONS 2009 conference. The schedule lists over 50 sessions taking place between 9:00-17:00 across three rooms (Torg 2, Torg 3, and Grace Hopper) on topics such as the future of Wikipedia, open standards, hackerspaces, Linux device drivers, Debian, PostgreSQL, and more. Buses will leave after the day's events at 18:30 to transport attendees to an evening social event.
This document contains the schedule for Sunday at FSCONS 2009, listing the talks and workshops taking place from 9:00 to 18:30 across three rooms: Torg 2, Torg 3, and Vin Cerf. There are talks on various topics related to free software and open source, such as free software and feminism, eForensics, copyleft hardware, citizen digital rights, Europeana, Perl6 programming, and more. Workshops will also be held on topics like Git, writing Jabber/XMPP software, and invisible logging. Talks can continue in designated discussion rooms if there is additional interest. Attendees can also book rooms to organize other events.
Why You Should Replace Windows 11 with Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 for enhanced perfor...SOFTTECHHUB
The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
GraphSummit Singapore | The Art of the Possible with Graph - Q2 2024Neo4j
Neha Bajwa, Vice President of Product Marketing, Neo4j
Join us as we explore breakthrough innovations enabled by interconnected data and AI. Discover firsthand how organizations use relationships in data to uncover contextual insights and solve our most pressing challenges – from optimizing supply chains, detecting fraud, and improving customer experiences to accelerating drug discoveries.
Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1DianaGray10
This session provides introduction to UiPath Communication Mining, importance and platform overview. You will acquire a good understand of the phases in Communication Mining as we go over the platform with you. Topics covered:
• Communication Mining Overview
• Why is it important?
• How can it help today’s business and the benefits
• Phases in Communication Mining
• Demo on Platform overview
• Q/A
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technologies, XML continues to play a vital role in structuring, storing, and transporting data across diverse systems. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present new methodologies for enhancing XML development workflows, introducing efficiency, automation, and intelligent capabilities. This presentation will outline the scope and perspective of utilizing AI in XML development. The potential benefits and the possible pitfalls will be highlighted, providing a balanced view of the subject.
We will explore the capabilities of AI in understanding XML markup languages and autonomously creating structured XML content. Additionally, we will examine the capacity of AI to enrich plain text with appropriate XML markup. Practical examples and methodological guidelines will be provided to elucidate how AI can be effectively prompted to interpret and generate accurate XML markup.
Further emphasis will be placed on the role of AI in developing XSLT, or schemas such as XSD and Schematron. We will address the techniques and strategies adopted to create prompts for generating code, explaining code, or refactoring the code, and the results achieved.
The discussion will extend to how AI can be used to transform XML content. In particular, the focus will be on the use of AI XPath extension functions in XSLT, Schematron, Schematron Quick Fixes, or for XML content refactoring.
The presentation aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of AI usage in XML development, providing attendees with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. Whether you’re at the early stages of adopting AI or considering integrating it in advanced XML development, this presentation will cover all levels of expertise.
By highlighting the potential advantages and challenges of integrating AI with XML development tools and languages, the presentation seeks to inspire thoughtful conversation around the future of XML development. We’ll not only delve into the technical aspects of AI-powered XML development but also discuss practical implications and possible future directions.
Dr. Sean Tan, Head of Data Science, Changi Airport Group
Discover how Changi Airport Group (CAG) leverages graph technologies and generative AI to revolutionize their search capabilities. This session delves into the unique search needs of CAG’s diverse passengers and customers, showcasing how graph data structures enhance the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated search results, mitigating the risk of “hallucinations” and improving the overall customer journey.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 5DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 5. In this session, we will cover CI/CD with devops.
Topics covered:
CI/CD with in UiPath
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Speaker:
Lyndsey Byblow, Test Suite Sales Engineer @ UiPath, Inc.
GraphSummit Singapore | The Future of Agility: Supercharging Digital Transfor...Neo4j
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Cosa hanno in comune un mattoncino Lego e la backdoor XZ?Speck&Tech
ABSTRACT: A prima vista, un mattoncino Lego e la backdoor XZ potrebbero avere in comune il fatto di essere entrambi blocchi di costruzione, o dipendenze di progetti creativi e software. La realtà è che un mattoncino Lego e il caso della backdoor XZ hanno molto di più di tutto ciò in comune.
Partecipate alla presentazione per immergervi in una storia di interoperabilità, standard e formati aperti, per poi discutere del ruolo importante che i contributori hanno in una comunità open source sostenibile.
BIO: Sostenitrice del software libero e dei formati standard e aperti. È stata un membro attivo dei progetti Fedora e openSUSE e ha co-fondato l'Associazione LibreItalia dove è stata coinvolta in diversi eventi, migrazioni e formazione relativi a LibreOffice. In precedenza ha lavorato a migrazioni e corsi di formazione su LibreOffice per diverse amministrazioni pubbliche e privati. Da gennaio 2020 lavora in SUSE come Software Release Engineer per Uyuni e SUSE Manager e quando non segue la sua passione per i computer e per Geeko coltiva la sua curiosità per l'astronomia (da cui deriva il suo nickname deneb_alpha).
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Imagine a world where software fuzzing, the process of mutating bytes in test seeds to uncover hidden and erroneous program behaviors, becomes faster and more effective. A lot depends on the initial seeds, which can significantly dictate the trajectory of a fuzzing campaign, particularly in terms of how long it takes to uncover interesting behaviour in your code. We introduce DIAR, a technique designed to speedup fuzzing campaigns by pinpointing and eliminating those uninteresting bytes in the seeds. Picture this: instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless mutations in large, bloated seeds, DIAR removes the unnecessary bytes, streamlining the entire process.
In this work, we equipped AFL, a popular fuzzer, with DIAR and examined two critical Linux libraries -- Libxml's xmllint, a tool for parsing xml documents, and Binutil's readelf, an essential debugging and security analysis command-line tool used to display detailed information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). Our preliminary results show that AFL+DIAR does not only discover new paths more quickly but also achieves higher coverage overall. This work thus showcases how starting with lean and optimized seeds can lead to faster, more comprehensive fuzzing campaigns -- and DIAR helps you find such seeds.
- These are slides of the talk given at IEEE International Conference on Software Testing Verification and Validation Workshop, ICSTW 2022.
“An Outlook of the Ongoing and Future Relationship between Blockchain Technologies and Process-aware Information Systems.” Invited talk at the joint workshop on Blockchain for Information Systems (BC4IS) and Blockchain for Trusted Data Sharing (B4TDS), co-located with with the 36th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), 3 June 2024, Limassol, Cyprus.
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Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
2. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Traditional archaeology Traditional archaeology defines culture as a set of artefacts that occur together during a certain period in time.
3. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Processual archaeology "Culture, man's extrasomatic means of adaptation to the environment" - Binford 1972:106
4. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Darwinian archaeology "Culture is information capable of affecting individuals' phenotypes which they acquire from conspecifics by teaching or imitation" - Boyd & Richerson 1985:33
5. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Memes "A meme is a postulated unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols or practices, and is transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena." - Wikipedia "Meme" 2009-10-29
6. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Why is Cultural Transmission important?
7. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Why is Cultural Transmission important?
8. Culture from an Archaeological Perspective Why is Cultural Transmission important?
28. Attribution CC-BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sequenz_diagramm-7.png By Gubaer CC-BY-SA 2.5 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oldowan_tradition_chopper.jpg By José-Manuel Benito Álvarez CC-BY-SA 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ariane_Sherine_and_Richard_Dawkins_at_the_Atheist_Bus_Campaign_launch.jpg By Zoe Margolis CC-BY-SA 1.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katrineholm_Municipality_in_S%C3%B6dermanland_County.png By Nordelch PD http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acheuleanhandaxe.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pale_teacher.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfl_arrowheads_from_flint_20060717161306.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sistema_ambiental_%28Clarke%29.png.png http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darwin_ape.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Copyright.svg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Advanced_Automation_for_Space_Missions_figure_5-29.gif http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sten%C3%A5ldersf%C3%B6rem%C3%A5l_2,_Nordisk_familjebok.jpg
Editor's Notes
Hi! I am Micke and I am a Stone Age archaeolgist. I work at the county museum of Sörmland in Nyköping. I wanted to talk to you today about Cultural Transmission from an archaeolgical perspective .
Archaeologists have a special way of looking at culture. Most of you probably think of stuff like opera, dance, paintings or theatre when you hear the word culture, But traditionaly archaeology deals specifically with material culture, that is things like arrow heads, pottery and post holes.
In the 1960's the processual or new archaeology defined culture as all non biological responses to the environment, and much focus was aimed at subsistence strategies and there was also a tendency towards natural determinism. This has been especially true for paleolithic and mesolithic studies, that is studies of the time before agriculture was introduced. Richard Bradly has a famous qoute saying: "Successful farmers have social relations with one another, while hunter-gatherers have ecological relations with hazelnuts"
Darwinian or evolutionary archaeology how ever defines culture as information capable of changing an individuals phenotype. Wikipedia tells us that a phenotype is any observable characteristic or trait of an organism: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, or behavior . Thus this definition is much broader and incorporates things as dance, speach or even opera. These thing are still very hard to study using archaeological methods so I guess that is why most of us still deal mainly with arrow heads, pots and post holes.
Using a Darwinian perspective on culture is quite useful when looking at cultural transmission in prehistory. When Thomsen devised his Three-age system comprizing of the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age in the 1820s he used methods similar to Cladistics and phylogenetic systematics. But then what is transmitted? In 1976 Richard Dawkins, that you can see here in the picture, proposed that the term meme can be used to discribe these cultural genes. A meme is simply a unit of culture such as a specific dance, an arrow head or a symbol. M emes are cultural analogues to genes, in that they self-replicate and respond to selective pressures.
But why is it important to study Cultural Transmission? This is a hard question to answer, because culture is an intrinsic part of being human. Culture is so natural to us that it is actually quite hard to look at from a distance. But I will say this: transmitting and receiving culture is what makes us human. And I mean this in a very literal sense.
Human ancestors started using handaxes about 2.6 million years ago. This is the first piece of culture that we have found. This type of hand axe that you can see here in the slide is called an olduwan hand axe. The Olduwan tradition is named after the Olduwai gorge in Tanzania, where the first traces of human culture was found.
It takes about 1 million years of evolution to go from the olduwan hand axe to the achulean hand axe that you can see here on the left. In the olduwan hand axe only a couple of flakes are removed from the edge of the tool but on the achulean hand axe flakes are removed from the entire circumference of the hand axe and flakes are also removed from both sides of the tool using a bifacial knapping technique. Neurological studies show that the parts of the brain that are used when making the newer achulean hand axe are the same as those used when speaking. Dietrich Stout writes: This is consistent with the hypothesis that selection acting on tool-making ability could have contributed to the evolution of language-relevant neural circuits (and vice versa) through a process of developmental displacement. This would mean that copying culture in a very real sense could have given us the ability to speak. Living in Sweden where it would not be at all possible to live without such cultural advancements as clothes, shoes, axes and the Linux kernel I am quite sure that speech is not the only thing that we can thank cultural transmission for.
Genes are spread through sexual reproduction and the frequency of a gene in a poulation is affected by the processes of mutation, selection and drift. A meme however have a slightly more complex way in which it is transmitted and that effects its frequency in a society.
There are several modes of transmission of memes. If we are just as likely to copy a meme from anyone, it is called unbiased transmission and the degree of which a certain meme is copied is relative to the frequency of which it already occurs in a society. For example: if you walk past some guy in the street with a terrific hair cut, and you decide to get that same hair cut. That is unbiased transmission. In unbiased transmission any member of a society is just as likely as anybody else to have there memes copied.
But there is also biased transmission, that is, we are for example some times more likely to inherit some memes from our relatives than from some random guy on the street, even if that guy have a terrific hair cut.
One form of biased transmisson is the conformist-biased. This describes the tendency in humans to copy the most frequent behavior in a society. That is, we are more likely do what a lot of other people do all ready. If every one uses the iPhone, than it is likely that we will also get one.
We are also more likely to do what a prestigious person is doing. We often decide do things in a certain way becouse some one who is influential in our community does things that way. That is why companies spend millions of dollars on movie stars and sport stars in adverisments.
Sätt på video! First comes the independent decision, a guy starts dancing thus creating a meme. After that we have some unbiased transmission, people walk by this random guy who is dancing and start dancing too. And somewhere here the conformist-biased transmission starts kicking in. The people who previously sat still looking quietly at the dance now just have to jump in.
So now we have seen that culture is realy important for humanity and we have seen all the ways it can be transmitted. But why is there a tendency in so many places to restrict access to culture for others? Given that culture is so important to people, and all the ways that it can be copied, it has also been important for people to restrict access to technology and information through out prehistory. Especially when such technology is prestigous or has a large financial value.
Every technology comes with a recipe, in French that recipe is called the “ Chaîne d’opératoire” which roughly translates to “production sequence” Once a technology gets complex enough that it is possible to keep the production sequence of that technology secret, people start to try and profit from that because sooner or later you will be in a possition where more people are interested in having access to a certain product than are able to easily produce it. And if you can stop the competion of gaining acces to your cultural recipes you can become a wealthier and more prestigious member of your society.
So copyright is nothing new, For instance, the people who were capable of producing the danish flint daggers in the picture here had a certain status in the late neolithic society in which they were produced and the flint knappers were keen on keeping that status within the family. So they inveneted a system where flint knapping where taught from parent to child within certain families or clans. Jan Apel studied the production of late neolthic type IV danish flint daggers in his doctoral dissertation and reached the conclusion that the know how of making these daggers where such a valuable commodity that it triggered a limitation in the recruiting of new flint knappers and also that this development help in the transition from a segmented tribal society to a chiefdom society.
I am going to give you one more example of copyright in prehistory. In 2007 I and three collegues excavated a site called Ändebol in the parish of Stora Malm, in Katrineholm in eastern central Sweden. The site dates back to 6300 BC, that is the middle mesolthic, and comprizes of two parts.
On the southernmost part of a large Island the main settlement site was situated. On this site we uncovered hearths, flaked quartz and flint, post holes and we also found remains of the final stages of production of green stone axes. The general interpretation of the site is that it is a place where a group of people have lived for a longer or shorter period over more than one season.
On the other site, situated on a small island about 400 meters north of the first island we found a site that yielded nothing but debitage from green stone axe production. How ever all of the debitage comes from the initial stages of the production and we didn't find any evidence of people actually living on the site, no hearths and no evidence of food production. Our interpretation is that people have been living on the larger island to the south for maybe a couple of weeks at a time. During this time a part of the group have made shorter trips to the small island in order to produce axes away from the larger group. We think that the reason for this is that someone have had an interest in conceiling the technique utilized when making these axes. In short they produced the axes on a Copyright island.
So in conclusion, we have seen that culture is enormously important to humans as a species but also that there has been economical and social reasons for individuals to limit access to culture for others, probably ever since technology got complex enough that it was possible to keep the production sequence of that technology secret. But that is what humans want, what about culture it self? Does culture want to be copied? I think the answer to that question must be yes. Genes can reproduce at the expense of the organism. One example of this is some male spiders that carry genes that make them reproduce although it shortens their own life since the cannibalistic female eats the male after reproduction. The same is true for memes. Some memes reproduce at the cost of the vehicle, take smoking, drinking and skydiving for instance. All of these memes reproduce at the cost of their host and I think this is clear evidence of self replicating memes wanting to reproduce on their own accord. We are not only benefiting from culture, culture is also benefiting from us. But the relationship is symbiotic rather than parasitic so I think that it is in our own best interest to help culture to reproduce because culture will in turn, for the most part, help us reproduce too, as it has for the last 2.6 million years. Thank you for listening.