Gary Feinman overseeing the excavations at the Platform 11 dwelling in El Palmillo. (CREDIT: Linda Nicholas and Gary Feinman)
Over the past 10,000 years, the trajectory of inequality has been far from linear. Rather than a direct correlation with the advent of farming, population growth, or urbanization, the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished has waxed and waned based on a diverse array of decisions, systems, and circumstances.
This groundbreaking finding, supported by an immense new dataset, challenges longstanding beliefs that economic disparity always escalates with human advancement. It also presents a compelling notion: that inequality is not an unavoidable outcome.
A Worldwide Examination of History
A global team of experts, including archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians, delved deep into one of the most extensive archaeological datasets ever compiled. They scrutinized over 50,000 residential structures from nearly 3,000 archaeological sites spanning six continents. Their methodology involved analyzing house sizes, with the researchers observing that the size and intricacy of residences typically mirrored wealth.
By utilizing these house dimensions, the team calculated the Gini coefficient—a figure ranging from 0 to 1 that gauges the evenness of wealth distribution. A value closer to 0 indicates greater equality, while a value near 1 signifies heightened inequality.
This methodology enabled researchers to compare economic disparities across different locations and eras, including societies predating formal writing systems or governmental structures.
Tim Kohler, an archaeologist from Washington State University who co-edited the project’s findings in a special issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, remarked, “Many envision early societies as egalitarian, but our research reveals that wealth inequality emerged surprisingly early.”
The rise of inequality was not a sudden event. Rather, disparities began to surface approximately 1,500 years after agriculture took root in various regions. As settlements expanded and grew denser, competition for resources such as land, water, and labor intensified, leading to the concentration of wealth—particularly in regions with high population densities and intricate political systems.
House size serves as a telling indicator of wealth, reflecting factors like wall thickness, construction materials, and architectural sophistication. According to Gary Feinman from the Field Museum in Chicago, who spearheaded a pivotal study comparing inequality patterns across time and space, these distinctions are consistent across cultures.
Feinman noted, “Discrepancies in house sizes may not capture the entire spectrum of wealth differences, but they provide a consistent marker of economic inequality that can be applied universally across various periods and locations.”
Feinman’s research revealed that inequality did not follow a straightforward upward trajectory. While certain regions exhibited stark divisions, others maintained relative balance. Even as populations expanded and societal structures grew more complex, inequality levels did not consistently heighten. Instead, additional factors came into play.
Residence at El Palmillo (Structure 35). Located in the top left area is a smaller dwelling on Terrace 925. (Acknowledgment: Linda Nicholas and Gary Feinman)
The presence of robust governing bodies, societal norms promoting fairness, and technologies facilitating resource sharing often slowed the rise of inequality. In some cases, certain innovations even worked to decrease it. For instance, the adoption of iron tools in specific societies expanded access to essential resources for more individuals, thereby leveling the economic playing field.
Inequality and the Duration of Settlements
A study conducted by Dan Lawrence and colleagues from Durham University explored the relationship between the duration of settlements and the presence of inequality. Their research, detailed in a publication by PNAS, examined over 47,500 homes across nearly 3,000 archaeological sites to determine if there was a correlation between the level of inequality and the longevity of inhabitation.
Their findings revealed that while more unequal settlements tended to endure for longer periods, this was not directly caused by the presence of inequality. Rather, both factors—inequality and settlement persistence—increased alongside the growth of social and political complexity. In essence, larger and more intricate systems often persisted longer and exhibited higher levels of inequality, although inequality itself did not contribute to their survival.
Lawrence emphasized, “Inequality is not merely an inevitable consequence of establishing complex, sustainable societies. As human systems have evolved to become larger and more complex, inequality has typically risen alongside extended persistence. However, these two aspects are not interdependent.”
Using the United Nations’ definition of sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations, Lawrence’s team delved into the historical interplay between equality and continuity. Their objective was to ascertain whether enduring societies achieved longevity through increased inequality or if alternative pathways existed.
“In a time marked by escalating wealth disparities and sustainability challenges such as climate change, lessons from the past millennia could prove invaluable in steering us towards a more equitable and genuinely sustainable future,” Lawrence remarked.
No Universal Solution
The findings from this extensive project underline that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing inequality. Conventional wisdom has often suggested that with the advent of agriculture, urbanization, or the rise of leadership, economic disparities inevitably widened. However, the latest evidence indicates a more nuanced reality.
Gary Feinman engaged in uncovering a plaster floor in Terrace 925 in El Palmillo. (Acknowledgment: Linda Nicholas and Gary Feinman)Feinman elaborated, “Certain factors may make inequality more likely to occur or escalate significantly, but these influences can be counteracted or altered by various human decisions and institutions.”
In regions where social collaboration or communal resource ownership thrived, inequality tended to remain minimal. Conversely, in areas where power and control became concentrated in the hands of a few, stark divisions emerged. For instance, early agricultural communities typically exhibited lower levels of inequality. However, as societies progressed into urban centers and expanded politically, economic disparities became more pronounced.
Kohler
The discovery challenges longstanding beliefs in history and social science. Ancient civilizations like Greece, Rome, and medieval Europe have traditionally been used as models for understanding the development of inequality. However, a global perspective reveals a more diverse narrative, emphasizing the role of human agency in shaping communities. This new insight, as explained by Washington State University archaeologist Tim Kohler, suggests that how people choose to organize themselves has been just as influential, if not more so, than factors such as population growth or technological advancements.
These findings have significant implications for contemporary society. As modern societies grapple with increasing wealth disparities, environmental challenges, and political unrest, understanding the historical evolution of inequality can provide valuable insights for shaping future decisions. History demonstrates that inequality is not inevitable or fixed; it can be mitigated, altered, or even reversed through strategies like fair governance, equitable resource distribution, and inclusive technologies.
While history has shown that factors like technology and population growth can contribute to inequality, it also highlights that societies have implemented mechanisms and governance systems to counteract these trends. As archaeologist Feinman notes, the potential for inequality is not always realized, as communities have developed strategies to promote equality and shared prosperity.
Moving forward is not without its challenges, but the evidence suggests that inequality is not a predetermined outcome. People have the capacity to influence the trajectory of their societies, as they have done throughout history and continue to do so today. This underscores the power of individuals and communities to shape a more equitable and sustainable future.
