Demographic uniformitarianism: the theoretical basis of prehistoric demographic research and its cross-disciplinary challenges

French, Jennifer C ORCID: 0000-0001-5947-6669 and Chamberlain, Andrew T (2021) Demographic uniformitarianism: the theoretical basis of prehistoric demographic research and its cross-disciplinary challenges PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 376 (1816). 20190720-. ISSN 0962-8436, 1471-2970

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Abstract

A principle of demographic uniformitarianism underpins all research into prehistoric demography (palaeodemography). This principle-which argues for continuity in the evolved mechanisms underlying modern human demographic processes and their response to environmental stimuli between past and present-provides the cross-disciplinary basis for palaeodemographic reconstruction and analysis. Prompted by the recent growth and interest in the field of prehistoric demography, this paper reviews the principle of demographic uniformitarianism, evaluates how it relates to two key debates in palaeodemographic research and seeks to delimit its range of applicability to past human and hominin populations. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography'.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	prehistoric demography, uniformitarianism, population dynamics, life history, archaic hominins
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Nov 2020 10:43
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 13:13
DOI:	10.1098/rstb.2019.0720
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3105489
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