The Behavioral Ecology of Food : Bridging the Archaeological and the Contemporary / Elic M. Weitzel, Natalie D. Munro.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Weitzel, Elic M., author.

Munro, Natalie D., author.

Series:

Elements in the Archaeology of Food.

Elements in the Archaeology of Food

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Food habits.

Human behavior.

Human ecology.

Social archaeology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (80 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2026.

Summary:

Due to the multi-faceted nature of food - as sustenance, symbol, and commodity - diverse theoretical perspectives have been used to study it in archaeology. One of the more influential and versatile of these approaches is behavioral ecology: the study of behavioral adaptation to local environments. Behavioral ecology provides a powerful body of theory for understanding human decision-making in both the past and present. This Element reviews what behavioral ecology is, how it has been used by archaeologists to study decision-making concerning food and subsistence, how it articulates with other ecological approaches, and how it can help us to better understand sustainability in our contemporary world. The use of behavioral ecology to bridge the archaeological and the contemporary can not only explain the roots of important behavioral processes, but provide potential policy solutions to promote a more sustainable society today.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Imprints page

The Behavioral Ecology of Food: Bridging the Archaeological and the Contemporary

Contents

1 Introduction

The Relevance of Archaeology

2 What Is Behavioral Ecology?

Behavioral Ecology

Modeling Adaptive Behavior

3 The Limits of Behavioral Ecology

Misconceptions about Behavioral Ecology

Behavioral Ecology and Other Ecological Approaches

When to Use Each Approach

4 Sustainability

Theoretical Approaches to Studying Sustainability

Archaeological Evidence for Sustainability

Lessons for Today

5 Conclusion

References.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Feb 2026).

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-009-27340-X

1-009-27343-4

1-009-27341-8

OCLC:

1574118169