Interaction, Spacing Behavior, and the Organization of Hunting Bands

Abstract

In this essay the organization of hunting bands is considered to be a special case of more general interaction and spacing processes. Some theoretical concepts about the functions of spacing behavior developed by animal ecologists are presented, and some notions of spatial interactions are borrowed from recent work in locational geography. These concepts are applied to a study of the organization of hunting bands. Systemic relations are specified among resources, locations, population, and space. Band organization is described in terms of ecological roles which are linked to highly effective strategies for harvesting both predictably stable and uncertain mobile food resources. Within this framework band organization is seen to be situationally flexible. Interaction and spacing factors are examined for their importance in preserving group identity while incorporating social units of varying functions into a continuing entity. A spatial-interaction model is developed and some of its implications are considered. An explanation for certain organizational regularities among hunting societies is offered.