Despite their great diversity, human languages are shaped by recurring grammatical universals. Verkerk et al. show that about one-third of the proposed universals hold cross-linguistically through ana...

Tech leaders say systems now rival human intelligence in key tasks, further fuelling the superintelligence debate

Wara Liang is a shoreline rockshelter on Lembata island, Indonesia, where excavation in 2017 revealed a deep stratigraphy preserving evidence of forager habitation from ca. 1200 years ago. At aroun...

PDF | This paper evaluates recent work purporting to show that the “agency” of organisms is an important phenomenon for evolutionary biology to study.... | Find, read and cite all the research you nee...

Amplified by social media, fanbases now feel closer than ever to their idols — for good and for ill

The past 20 years have witnessed profound changes in prehistoric archaeological research in mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA). Based on publication data from related research results—including journal article, book, book section/conference paper, and thesis—this paper provides a bird’s-eye view of how the field of prehistoric archaeology has developed over the past 20 years and, in particular, the role of local and international scholars. The findings show that Western scholars, who remain active in this field, have had a comprehensive and far-reaching influence on the discipline of prehistoric archaeology in MSEA. Local and international scholars have remarkably contrasting interests in terms of research topics, as local scholars are deeply invested in revealing the intricate threads of their own histories and cultures, while international scholars traverse regional boundaries and engage in macro-level discussion to explore scientific questions. This diversity is also found in their journal selection preferences, with local scholars focusing on local journals and international scholars preferring high-impact international journals. The analysis of institutional cooperation also shows diversified international cooperation and a growing local cooperative practice. This study provides a broad perspective from which to examine the development of research on prehistoric archaeology in MSEA over the last two decades and to deepen our understanding of the state of the field in this region.

Abstract. Cultural transmission across generations is key to cumulative cultural evolution. While several mechanisms—such as vertical, horizontal, and obli