Hyperbolic Illusion of the Mid-Holocene Turning Point

Abstract

Using the growth of population in Australia in the past 10,000 years it is illustrated here how an illusion created by hyperbolic distributions may lead easily to incorrect conclusions. Contrary to the published claim, there was no change in the mechanism of growth of the ancient human population in Australia around 5000 years before present (BP). Data for the number of rock-shelter sites, interpreted as reflecting the growth of human population, are analysed. They are shown to be monotonically increasing with time without any sign of intensification in the past 10,000 years. The growth of human population in Australia is in excellent agreement with the similar pattern describing the growth of the world population.