The ethnographical conception of diffusion and its relevance to the question of continuity and discontinuity in the evolution of man and the emergence of ancien society

In the early part of this century there was a debated among ethnographers around the issue of “diffusion versus evolution” concerning the spread or independent development of ethnographical traits or complexes thereof. Dogmanic adherence to one or other of these extreme viewpoints was shown to be unproductive and compromises were effected invoking “historical” considerations. Such considerations were essentially idealistic raised as ideological counterpoints to progressive 19th century bourgeois evolutionism and particularly to historical materialism.

The concept of diffusion of cultural traits is of value in helping to elucidate the socio-biological process of hominisation. Some cultural traits are manifestly conservative while others change relatively quickly.

The ethnographic record shows that the main instruments of production are fabricated from perishable organic materials, largely of wood. This situation most probably existed during the hominisation period. But the archaeological record provides almost exclusively artefacts of non-perishable inorganic material and only rarely of organic material.

There is evidence that Archanthropus used pointed sticks as jabbing spears and seemingly during the Middle Palaeolithic Palaeanthropus began acquiring the throwing spear, the use of which probably became general with Neanthropus.

The construction of these two types of spear is fundamentally different as is also the modus operandi of their use in hunting. This is elucidated on the basis of Australian ethnographic data where, in historical times, both types of spear were in use. The “social” consequence of the changeover from the jabbing to the throwing spear is indicated.

It is not suggested that the changeover could not have been made independently although not simultaneously in a number of centres. What seems more likely is that the main method of acquisition of the throwing spear was by diffusion. This ultimately led to the biological development of Neanthropus from Palaeanthropus. But because diffusion is an irregular phenomenon Neanthropus would have emerged earlier in some parts of the inhabited world than in others.