James Cole (University of Southampton)

The social brain hypothesis proposed by Dunbar (1992; 1996; 1998; 2003; 2004) is a biological predictive model relating to hominin brain encephalisation. The hypothesis deals with the possible cognitive capabilities of hominins based on biological projections relating to brain and social group size. The aim of this paper is to describe a theoretical link through categories of identity by which the social brain hypothesis may be related to the material / behavioural archaeological record. The social brain hypothesis (based on brain size) suggests that the ability to construct complex symbolic structures is only attained by anatomically modern humans. A theoretical link is required in order to relate the Palaeolithic archaeological record to a scale of cognitive complexity – in this instance, orders of intentionality. I propose here that by looking at the archaeological record through categories of identity that certain types of material culture production; or certain behavioural practices can be related to higher orders of intentionality.

Identity is informed by a sense of ‘self’, ‘self’ in turn is constructed by the body and the mind. However, it is the body that projects an external representation of an individual’s sense of identity to the external world. Although there are different types of identity, the body remains the canvas by which a desired identity is projected to an ‘other’. Similarly, the body is the framework viewed by an ‘other’ which leads to the external view and opinion of an individual’s identity. Archaeological treatments of the body and extensions thereof - such as ornamentation and portrayal - can be related to categories of identity. In order to conceive and produce an identity degrees of cognitive complexity are required. I have related categories of identity to orders of intentionality thereby creating a theoretical link between the archaeological record and a scale of cognitive complexity. Utilising this theory, archaeologists may then examine the archaeological record of the various Homo species in order to correlate the archaeological record to the orders of intentionality, thereby testing the social brain hypothesis predictions of hominin cognitive capabilities.