In this paper, we explore the heuristic potential of a set of ideas about the structural and functional complexity of systems, proposed in the 1990s by theoretical biologist Daniel McShea. In particular, we focus on the structural aspects of the complexity exhibited by social systems organized into low- and intermediate-level functional units (i.e., groups and teams). To address this subject, we describe a methodology suited for measuring the complexity in the organization of work in such systems, which is primarily based on hierarchical task analysis. With this methodology, we approach a concrete case study: the construction of megalithic monuments in late prehistoric Iberia (ca. 3800–1800 BC). On the basis of the analysis of the three best documented, most structurally, and functionally complex monuments built within each of the three periods under study (Late Neolithic, Copper Age, and Early Bronze Age), we found that there was a trend towards less complexity in work organization related to monument building from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. We discuss the importance of these results in light of the existing models of social complexity in European Later Prehistory, concluding that a more balanced view of social processes would be obtained if we look at complexity as a property of every different social system integrated into the whole society, and not as an exclusive property of the latter.

在本文中，我们探讨了 1990 年代由理论生物学家 Daniel McShea 提出的一组关于系统结构和功能复杂性的想法的启发式潜力。特别是，我们关注由组织成低级和中级功能单元（即团体和团队）的社会系统所表现出的复杂性的结构方面。为了解决这个问题，我们描述了一种适用于衡量此类系统中工作组织复杂性的方法，该方法主要基于分层任务分析。通过这种方法，我们进行了一个具体的案例研究：史前伊比利亚晚期（约公元前 3800-1800 年）。根据对所研究的三个时期（新石器时代晚期、铜器时代和青铜时代早期）中每个时期建造的三个记录最完整、结构和功能最复杂的纪念碑的分析，我们发现有一个趋势是从新石器时代晚期到青铜时代早期，与纪念碑建筑相关的工作组织的复杂性。我们根据欧洲后期史前史中现有的社会复杂性模型讨论了这些结果的重要性，得出的结论是，如果我们将复杂性视为整合到整体中的每个不同社会系统的属性，则会获得对社会过程的更平衡的看法。社会，而不是后者的专有财产。