Was the stone age family a nuclear family? If not then what kind of structure did it have?

Answer 1

mutherwulf (above me) has the most correct answer, thus far.

Unlike the family and society of today, naturalistic cultures tended to be matriarchal. As could be seen in various societies---such as the Celts and many Amerindian cultures of the Americas---there are two aspects of matriarchy (as there is with patriarchy).

1. These cultures tended to be matrilinneal. This means that the bloodline of a group is traced through the mother. The reason for this is due to the fact that mating (as it generally is in nature) was not monogomous. Since it was oftentimes unclear as to who the father of a child was, the bloodline of the tribe had to run through the women of a tribe.

2. These cultures tended to be matrilocal (i.e. the husband moves in with the wife's family). It is evident in various Amerindian societies (such as the Huron and Iroquois) that marriage was unlike anything to which Western society is used. A "husband" moved in with his "wife" (and her mother and grandmother). If he offends the wife or a member of the household, he is kicked out to go live with his mother again. Likewise, "divorce" was usually just declared as so, and both parties went their separate ways.

This setup makes way for a power structure Western society has always feared---one where women are at the top. In these naturalistic societies, women were in control of most tasks deemed valuable. Because of this, men relied on women more than the other way around.

If you want to learn more about how the people of the stone age lived, it is best to study various groups such as the Amerindians, as, up until their society's destruction at the hands of Europeans, their lives were relatively unchanged since pre-historic times.

Answer 2

I think the answer is a resounding NO. Invariably, most stone age people probably lived as a group consisted of extended family with most members of the group, being blood-related. The concept of a nuclear family with Mother, Father, and children is a new one and probably has its roots in the Victorian age when the idealization of the "family" started.....

I can't imagine that a nuclear family on its own in the stone age period would have survived long. Think of all the tasks required to keep the group going...hunting & gathering food, protecting the group from predator attacks etc. Any one of these functions would require several people to complete just ONE task.

Answer 3

I would have to imagine their family structure was more like that of the pre-Christian, matriarchal societies... the ancient Celts and many "primitive" cultures of today.

The women are the binding agent for mutliple generations. Grandmothers, Mothers and children form the center of the family.... often fathers, brothers and uncles still live with the women, but sometimes they go off with another group.

A man who wishes to pair up with a woman joins the woman's family, rather than the woman moving to the man's village or tribe. She is supported by her extended family, and males tend to be more socially isolated because relationships were rarely lifelong commitments.

We can see this happening again today, where many women have children and decide not to stay with their children's father so they stay with their own family. Even when married people live in a nuclear family nowadays, there are definately stronger ties to the woman's family than to the man's. Couples with children usually stay geographicly closer to the mother's parents and often prefer to leave the children in the care of maternal grandparents over the paternal ones.

I think this is our instincts telling us the natural way of life.

Answer 4

I'd say the nuclear family, as it is the basis of a community and society. The men still went out and hunted, and returned home with the provisions. And of course the women did the other work...preparing leather, food, and whatever else.

Answer 5

no i think the answer is in the question sort ov and mud huts wattle and dorb style