The age-area hypothesis is a concept in
cultural anthropology that
cultural traits tend to expand outward from their origin with time. Thus, the larger an area that a trait is found in, the older it is.
The age-area hypothesis is controversial, and considered by some to be discredited.
Historical Inferences from Guttman Scales: The Return of Age-Area Magic?
Theodore D. Graves; Nancy B. Graves; Michael J. Kobrin Current Anthropology, Vol. 10, No. 4. (Oct., 1969), pp. 317-338.
References
Cultural anthropology
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