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]