Body-based units of measure in cultural evolution

2023/06/01 by Roope Oskari Kaaronen, Mikael A. Manninen, Jussi T. Eronen · 1 voice · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Language and cultural evolution

paper · doi:10.1126/science.adf1936

openalex publication_date 2023/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Measurement systems are important drivers of cultural and technological evolution. However, the evolution of measurement is still insufficiently understood. Many early standardized measurement systems evolved from body-based units of measure, such as the cubit and fathom, but researchers have rarely studied how or why body-based measurement has been used. We documented body-based units of measure in 186 cultures, illustrating how body-based measurement is an activity common to cultures around the world. Here, we describe the cultural and technological domains these units are used in. We argue that body-based units have had, and may still have, advantages over standardized systems, such as in the design of ergonomic technologies. This helps explain the persistence of body-based measurement centuries after the first standardized measurement systems emerged.

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• A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation

Discussions

• On systems that would not have preserved but were plausibly or likely present: 1. Body-based units of measure: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 2. Finger-counting: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22695379/ [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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