Non-Equilibrium Models in New Guinea Ecology: Possibilities of Cultural Extrapolation

Abstract

Anthropological analyses labeled ecological are actually pure functionalism. They assume a balanced relationship between cultural factors and physical environment based on the study of a single historical moment and without demonstrating any history of feedback or longterm adaptation. An analysis of the pig feasts of the Highlands of New Guinea and of the development of the Tolai population in New Britain since its 1st colonization in around 1200 A.D. illustrates the possibility of constructing a family of ecological models which do not assume equilibrium. A continually growing human population not absolutely limited by environment and with relatively fixed cultural rules must be assumed. Even with fixed rules different realizations in behavior are observed according to population density, availability of land, etc. Among the Tolai, no balanced adaptation to the environment has occurred in over 700 yr. At least 300 yr are necessary to produce an adaptation in a stable and limiting environment; such stability occurs only rarely. Ecological cultural analysis should not aim to analyze cultural adaptations to fixed environments, but rather to analyze methods of realizing stable cultural configurations in changing and changeable environments.