[CodeToad]

” Tribes are productive, based on highly conservative networks of customary obligations, and functional.”

Marginally effective. Never saw a tribe create new technology. Seem them wage war over and over again, but not build a society.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I'll concede you that, Toad, with this caveat: it depends on what criteria you use to measure functionality. There are probably dozens of distinguishable sets of criteria that could be defended by some "survival fitness" argument.

There are tribal societies which have passed into extinction, others that have persisted for thousands of years.

Never saw a tribe create new technology for killing people. Seem them wage war over and over again, but not end up with a continent-wide genocide.