Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia

In this paper, we explore the heuristic potential of a set of ideas about the structural and functional complexity of systems, proposed in the 1990s by theoretical biologist Daniel McShea. In particular, we focus on the structural aspects of the complexity exhibited by social systems organized into...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Barrientos, Gustavo, García Sanjuán, Leonardo
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2020
Materias:
Ciencias Naturales
Structural and functional complexity
Social systems
Work organization
Task analysis
Megalithic monuments
Iberian Late Prehistory
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/138284
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-138284
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Structural and functional complexity
Social systems
Work organization
Task analysis
Megalithic monuments
Iberian Late Prehistory
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Structural and functional complexity
Social systems
Work organization
Task analysis
Megalithic monuments
Iberian Late Prehistory
Barrientos, Gustavo
García Sanjuán, Leonardo
Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Structural and functional complexity
Social systems
Work organization
Task analysis
Megalithic monuments
Iberian Late Prehistory
description In this paper, we explore the heuristic potential of a set of ideas about the structural and functional complexity of systems, proposed in the 1990s by theoretical biologist Daniel McShea. In particular, we focus on the structural aspects of the complexity exhibited by social systems organized into low- and intermediate-level functional units (i.e., groups and teams). To address this subject, we describe a methodology suited for measuring the complexity in the organization of work in such systems, which is primarily based on hierarchical task analysis. With this methodology, we approach a concrete case study: the construction of megalithic monuments in late prehistoric Iberia (ca. 3800–1800 BC). On the basis of the analysis of the three best documented, most structurally, and functionally complex monuments built within each of the three periods under study (Late Neolithic, Copper Age, and Early Bronze Age), we found that there was a trend towards less complexity in work organization related to monument building from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. We discuss the importance of these results in light of the existing models of social complexity in European Later Prehistory, concluding that a more balanced view of social processes would be obtained if we look at complexity as a property of every different social system integrated into the whole society, and not as an exclusive property of the latter.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Barrientos, Gustavo
García Sanjuán, Leonardo
author_facet Barrientos, Gustavo
García Sanjuán, Leonardo
author_sort Barrientos, Gustavo
title Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
title_short Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
title_full Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
title_fullStr Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
title_full_unstemmed Measuring the Complexity of Past Social Systems: a Task Analysis Approach to the Study of Late Prehistoric Monumentality in Iberia
title_sort measuring the complexity of past social systems: a task analysis approach to the study of late prehistoric monumentality in iberia
publishDate 2020
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/138284
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