The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly Episode 82: David Wengrow
Dec 22, 2021
David Wengrow, an archaeologist renowned for his work on social evolution and co-author of *The Dawn of Everything*, dives deep into the complexities of human history. He challenges the idea that societal advancements emerged solely from agriculture, uncovering diverse ancient cultures with egalitarian principles. The discussion highlights Indigenous perspectives, critiques of social hierarchies, and creative alternatives to capitalism in the face of ecological challenges. Wengrow emphasizes that human history is rich with possibilities, urging a rethinking of our collective past and future.
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Conventional Evolutionary Story Is Flawed
- The standard story says humans lived in small egalitarian bands until agriculture created surplus, hierarchy, and states.
- Wengrow and Graeber argue archaeological and anthropological evidence overturns almost all of this narrative.
Agriculture Was Multiple, Not Single
- Agriculture did not emerge once globally but appeared independently in many places and times.
- Treating it as a single 'revolution' is mythology, not archaeology.
New Science Re-Humanizes Prehistory
- Archaeology now uses genetics, isotopes, and environmental science to reconstruct detailed human histories.
- These methods re-humanize the past and reveal diverse social experiments globally.
