The Changing Theoretical Landscape

Abstract

The study of hunter—gatherers has seen an enormous amount of activity over the past generation, both in terms of field research and theoretical developments. Several excellent syntheses of some of this work have recently appeared (Beninger, 1991; Smith and Winterhalder, 1992), but much of it still remains as separate and isolated studies. My goal here is not to attempt to bring it all together into some coherent framework, but rather to discuss what I see as certain dominant themes and probl ematic issues that must be addressed by archaeologists interested in prehistoric hunter—gatherers. Many of these issues played a role in my original modeling efforts or their subsequent criticisms .