Comparison of IQ Between Ancient Farmers and Modern Civilized People
How did the IQ of the earliest ancient farmers compare with the IQs of modern civilized people? The answer is not straightforward. While there is not a significant amount of evidence to suggest a major difference, it is possible that either the ancient farmers had a lower or higher IQ than their modern counterparts. This comparison involves several factors, including cultural differences, environment, and the nature of IQ tests themselves.
The Nature of IQ Tests and Their Limitations
IQ tests are often criticized for being a poor measure of intelligence due to their cultural biases. These tests are predominantly based on cultural knowledge, meaning that individuals who have a better understanding of the culture from which the questions originate will likely perform better. Conversely, those who have grown up outside the mainstream culture may fare poorly on such tests.
It is important to recognize that IQ tests are not a valid tool for comparing intelligence between individuals from vastly different backgrounds. For the purposes of this discussion, the IQ scores of ancient farmers would likely be much lower than those of modern civilized individuals due to their lack of exposure to the modern educational and cultural norms that underpin contemporary IQ tests.
Intelligence of Ancient Farmers
Despite their lower IQ scores, ancient farmers were more than just resilient. They were highly intelligent in their own right. They survived and flourished in a world that would be barely recognizable to us today. Their profound local environmental knowledge is often far surpassing that of modern biologists. The earliest ancient farmers were at the forefront of a revolutionary change in how their societies adapted to their environment. This cultural and environmental challenge required a sophisticated level of intelligence to succeed.
Consider the challenge ancient farmers faced: they had to cultivate plants during the last ice age, when Pleistocene megafauna such as woolly mammoths were still running around. Imagine the complexities of ensuring a steady food supply in such a dangerous and challenging environment. The intelligence required to manage such tasks would have been exceptional, showing that these ancient farmers possessed a remarkable level of cognitive abilities, even if their scores on modern IQ tests would be lower.
The Flynn Effect and Modern Civilization
Modern people benefit from much better nutrition and a far more diverse and stimulating environment. These advantages have contributed to the rise in IQ scores over time, as illustrated by the Flynn Effect. This phenomenon refers to the observed increase in IQ scores across generations, with an average increase of approximately 3 points per decade since the 1930s.
The Flynn Effect highlights the significant positive impact of modern living conditions on cognitive abilities. The more diverse and challenging environment of today's world could explain why modern populations generally score higher on IQ tests than their predecessors.
Adaptability and Intelligence
It is crucial to recognize that IQ tests are not the ultimate measure of intelligence. Intelligence is a multifaceted concept that includes problem-solving, adaptability, innovation, and creative thinking. Ancient farmers were highly adept at survival, innovation, and adapting to their environment, all of which are signs of intelligence.
One example to illustrate this point is the impressive spatial awareness and recollection of aboriginal groups like the Australian Aborigines. These indigenous populations often wandered vast distances in arid environments, requiring them to develop excellent spatial and memory skills. When tested in a culturally relevant setting, these skills were noted, demonstrating that intelligence and adaptability are not limited to the traditional IQ test framework.
Conclusion
While the IQ scores of ancient farmers would likely be lower than those of modern civilized people due to cultural and environmental differences, their intelligence should not be underestimated. The early farmers were incredibly intelligent in the context of their time, adapting to and thriving in a challenging world. Modern IQ tests are limited in their ability to fully capture the range of cognitive abilities exhibited by ancient populations. Therefore, while IQ scores may provide a useful historical reference, they should not solely determine our view of intelligence and adaptability.