BaYaka adolescent boys nominate accessible adult men as preferred spear hunting models

Lew-Levy, S., Milks, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0779-6200, Ntamboudila, F. K., Broesch, T. and Kline, M. A. (2021) BaYaka adolescent boys nominate accessible adult men as preferred spear hunting models. Current Anthropology, 62 (5). pp. 631-640. ISSN 1537-5382 doi: 10.1086/716853

Abstract/Summary

Humans are selective social learners. In a cultural landscape with many potential models, learners must balance the cost associated with learning from successful models with learning from accessible ones. Using structured interviews, we investigate the model selection biases of Congolese BaYaka adolescent boys learning to hunt with spears (n p 24; mean age [mage] p 15.79 years; range, 12–20 years). Results from social relations models suggest that adolescents nominated accessible adult men (closely related kin and neighbors) as preferred spear hunting models. Direct cues for success were not strong predictors for adolescent nomination in the statistical models, despite learners justifying model selection according to teaching and spear hunting skill. Indirect cues including body mass index, age, and cross-domain prestige were weak predictors for adolescent nomination. We interpret these findings as suggesting that BaYaka spear hunting knowledge is widely shared in the community, with all adult men participating in spear hunting and therefore having the requisite experience to transmit this skill. This supports previous findings that in egalitarian societies with low rates of role specialization, prestige has limited importance for cross-domain learning.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/102634
Identification Number/DOI	10.1086/716853
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	University of Chicago Press
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