ABSTRACT
[Abstract: Darwinian evolution is, at its heart, the production and winnowing of diversity. Examining diversity at different scales can tell us about the micro- and macroscopic process that promote and constrain changes in artefact forms and manufacture processes. This chapter examines the diversity of material culture at three scales, corresponding to alpha, beta, and gamma diversity in ecology, across several macro-regions during the Paleolithic. Although the evidence is largely qualitative, major trends in the production and loss of diversity can be observed. The timing and magnitude of these changes also vary across macro-regions, pointing to significant differences in underlying demographic and environmental dynamics.]
