Kinship and Deep History: Exploring Connections between Culture Areas, Genes, and Languages

Large-scale geographic variation in kinship systems may have deep roots. A number of authors now argue for an "emerging synthesis," with genetic, linguistic, and archeological findings coming together to paint a consistent picture of large-scale population spreads in prehistory. This article explores a social structural dimension of this synthesis: Major culture areas based on variation in kinship systems correspond closely—yet not perfectly—to genetic and linguistic clusters identified by other researchers. Thus it may be possible to reconstruct: (1) a set of "primary" culture areas corresponding to major population blocs and associated with ancient demic expansions and parallel transmission of genes and culture, and (2) a smaller set of overlying "secondary" culture areas of more recent origin that do not map onto genetic subdivisions and result from changes in subsistence or political economy independent of large-scale demic expansions. I also review latitudinal variation in kinship systems. Keywords: culture areas, demic expansions, kinship (prehistory), protolanguages]