Hunter-gatherer societies manifest significant variability, depending on climate zone/life zone, available technology and societal structure. Archaeologists examine hunter-gatherer tool kits to measure variability across different groups. Collard et al. (2005) found temperature to be the only statistically significant factor to impact hunter-gatherer tool kits. Using temperature as a proxy for risk, Collard et al.'s results suggest that environments with extreme temperatures pose a threat to hunter-gatherer systems significant enough to warrant increased variability of tools. These results support Torrence's (1989) theory that risk of failure is indeed the most important factor in determining the structure of hunter-gatherer toolkits. COUNT 5
QSN1 What is the only important factor in hunter-gatherer tool choices? ANS1 temperature QSN2 What does climate produce in hunter-gatherer societies? ANS2 variability QSN3 What is the threat that extreme temperature causes in environment? ANS3 significant QSN4 What does temperature impact on tool kits? ANS4 increased variability of tools QSN5 What is Torrence's 1989 theory about that ties into tool kit variability ? ANS5 risk of failure