How has the lottery evolved over time, and how can we tell? Does its evolution give us clues about its origin?

The lottery has changed over time. Much of the elaborate tradition has given way to the picking of the name and the execution of the "winner". The original black box, for example, was once ornate and beautiful. Now it is a shabby black box stored in a cold cellar. There used to be music and pageantry but all that has gone. People don't even know the reason for the lottery.