The significance of archaeology
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was right when he asserted his theory, which received the name Darwinism from his surname. In his main work "The Origin of species by natural selection" (1859), summarizing the results of his own observations (sailing on the Beagle, 1831-1836) and the achievements of modern biology and breeding practice, he revealed the main factors of the evolution of the organic world. In the work "Changing domestic animals and cultivated plants" (vol. 1-2, 1868), he outlined additional factual material to the main work. In the book "The Origin of Man and sexual selection" (1871), he substantiated the hypothesis of the origin of man from an ape-like ancestor.
The driving forces of evolution, according to Darwin, are hereditary variability and natural selection. Variability serves as the basis for the formation of new signs in the structure and functions of organisms, and heredity fixes these signs. As a result of the struggle for existence, there is a predominant survival and participation in the reproduction of the fittest individuals, that is, natural selection, the consequence of which is the emergence of new species. At the same time, it is essential that the fitness of organisms to the environment is relative. Independently of Darwin, A. Wallace came to similar conclusions. A significant contribution to the promotion and development of Darwinism was made by T. Huxley (in 1860 he proposed the term "Darwinism"), F. Muller and E. Haeckel, A. O. and V. O. Kovalevsky, N. A. and A. N. Severtsov, I. I. Mechnikov, K. A., Timiryazev, I. I. Schmalhausen, etc. In the 20-30s of the 20th century, the so-called synthetic theory of evolution was formed, combining classical Darwinism and the achievements of genetics. As a holistic materialistic doctrine, Darwinism actually revolutionized biology, undermined the positions of creationism and vitalism, and had a huge impact on natural and social sciences and culture in general in the 2nd half of the 19th century. However, during Darwin's lifetime, along with the widespread acceptance of his theory, various currents of anti-Darwinism arose in biology, denying or sharply limiting the role of natural selection in evolution and putting forward other factors as the main forces leading to speciation. The controversy over the main problems of Darwin's evolutionary teaching continues in modern science, although Darwin's theory is being proved more and more. For example, in archaeology, a science that studies the history of society based on the material remains of people's lives and activities – material monuments. Archaeology explores individual ancient objects (tools, vessels, weapons, jewelry) and entire complexes (settlements, treasures, burial grounds) discovered by archaeological excavations, on the basis of which historians reconstruct the history of epochs that are little or not covered by written sources, including the stages of the formation of ancient man.
