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.