Stefano Grimaldi - Nuove Prospettive in Antropologia ed Evoluzione 23

CONFERENCE New Perspectives in Anthropology and Evolution 23 Evolution and Diversity of Human Language from Prehistory to Modernity Description: Professor Stefano Grimaldi offers an interdisciplinary reflection that connects archaeology and anthropology to explore the cultural roots of humanity. Archaeological evidence and anthropological contributions are examined to understand how the environment has influenced the development of human culture and language. The critical approach aims to challenge the traditional view that sees language as the primary creator of culture, emphasizing instead the role of culture in the formation of language. Various historical and cultural examples are discussed to illustrate how different cultures have responded to environmental and climate change, offering a complex vision of human cultural evolution. The presentation concludes with a series of reflections on the importance of a holistic interpretation of archaeological and anthropological data for a deeper understanding of humankind and its history. The presentation's key points include: Integration of archaeology and anthropology: The proposed approach emphasizes the importance of combining archaeological evidence with anthropological studies for a more comprehensive understanding of human culture. This approach explores how the environment influences culture and language, emphasizing that language is an integral part of culture, but not its sole constituent. Criticism of the view of language as the protagonist of culture: The idea that language is the central element around which culture is built is criticized. Instead, it is argued that language is one of the elements shaped by culture, highlighting the role of anthropology in defining human culture and of archaeology in recognizing past cultures across disciplinary boundaries. Temporal intersection of archaeology and anthropology: The intersection of archaeology and anthropology is seen as a temporal overlap that offers the greatest amount of information when ethnographic studies and archaeological data coincide. This allows for significant results in the interpretation of cultural and archaeological data. Culture as a complex system: Culture is described as a complex set of values, norms, language, and practices that go beyond the mere understanding of language. The importance of recognizing culture as a phenomenon that includes symbols, artifacts, and practices, which must be learned and transmitted from one generation to the next, is emphasized. Evolution of human culture and the role of the environment: The study discusses how the environment plays a crucial role in the evolution of human culture, influencing cultural responses to climate and environmental changes. Culture is viewed as a means by which populations adapt to environmental variations, with historical examples showing how different populations have responded differently to climate and environmental changes. *** The Institute of Human Paleontology, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Anthropology and the University of Trento, and with the support of the Directorate-General for Education, Research, and Cultural Institutes, organized the conference "Evolution and Diversity of Human Language from Prehistory to Modernity" as part of the "New Perspectives in Anthropology and Evolution" series. Session 1 – Friday the 15th from 9:00 AM Andrea Parravicini (Unimi) Carlo Brentari (Unitn) Session 2 – Friday the 15th from 3:30 PM Giorgio Manzi (Uniroma1) Giovanni Destro Bisol (Uniroma1) Stefano Grimaldi (Unitn) Session 3 – Saturday the 16th from 9:00 AM Luigi Rizzi (Unisi/Collège de France) Federica Ricci Garotti (Unitn) Birgit Alber (Unibz) Ermenegildo Bidese (Unitn)