Evolutionary anthropology / Human evolution Books

Book SynopsisWorld-renowned biohacker and bestselling author Dave Asprey reveals how to maximize your well-being with the minimum effort, by taking control of your body's operating system.If you want to lose weight, boost your energy, or sharpen your mind, there are shelves of books offering myriad styles of advice. If you want to build up your strength and cardio fitness, there are plenty of gyms and trainers ready to offer you their guidance. What all of these resources have in common is they offer you a bad deal: a lot of effort for a little payoff. Dave Asprey has found a better way.In Smarter Not Harder, the proven master of biohacking exposes the surprising secrets of your body's operating system, or its MeatOS. That system is naturally designed to be lazy, which is why sweaty exercise routines and rigid diets produce such limited effects. Dave shows us how to hack the MeatOS and make it do what we want it to do, turning it from obstacle into ally. The key to achieving optimum wellness, he re

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Book SynopsisReadings for a History of Anthropological Theory curates and collects many of the most important publications of anthropological thought spanning the last hundred years, building a strong foundation in both classical and contemporary theory. The sixth edition includes seventeen new readings, with a sharpened focus on public anthropology, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and the Anthropocene. Each piece of writing is accompanied by a short introduction, key terms, study questions, and further readings that elucidate the original text.On its own or together with A History of Anthropological Theory, sixth edition, this anthology offers an unrivalled introduction to the theory of anthropology that reflects not only its history but also the changing nature of the discipline today.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Part One The Early History of Anthropological Theory Overview 1. Bourgeois and Proletarians Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels 2. The Science of Culture Edward Burnett Tylor 3. Ethnical Periods Lewis Henry Morgan 4. General Summary and Conclusion [The Descent of Man] Charles Darwin 5. Introduction [The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life] Émile Durkheim 6. Conclusion [The Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies] Marcel Mauss 7. The Sociology of Charismatic Authority Max Weber 8. Nature of the Linguistic Sign and Synchronic and Diachronic Law Ferdinand de Saussure Part Two The Earlier Twentieth Century Overview 9. The Methods of Ethnology Franz Boas 10. Conclusion [Primitive Society] Robert Lowie 11. What Anthropology Is About Alfred Louis Kroeber 12. Introduction [Coming of Age in Samoa] Margaret Mead 13. The Individual and the Pattern of Culture Ruth Benedict 14. The Unconscious Patterning of Behavior in Society Edward Sapir 15. Introduction and Part One: Folk Tales, John and the Frog, Witness of the Johnstown Flood in Heaven [Mules and Men] Zora Neale Hurston 16. Social Structure Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown 17. The Subject, Method, and Scope of This Inquiry [Argonauts of the Western Pacific] Bronislaw Malinowski 18. Model Systems Edmund Leach 19. Rituals of Rebellion in South-East Africa Max Gluckman Part Three The Later Twentieth Century Overview 20. Structuralism and Ecology Claude Lévi-Strauss 21. Introduction [Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo] Mary Douglas 22. Introduction [Islands of History] Marshall Sahlins 23. Componential Analysis and the Study of Meaning Ward H. Goodenough 24. Energy and Tools Leslie White 25. Archaeology as Anthropology Lewis Binford 26. The Epistemology of Cultural Materialism Marvin Harris 27. The New Physical Anthropology Sherwood Washburn 28. Symbols in Ndembu Ritual Victor Turner 29. Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture Clifford Geertz 30. Woman the Gatherer: Male Bias in Anthropology Sally Slocum 31. The Female World of Cards and Holidays: Women, Families, and the Work of Kinship Micaela di Leonardo 32. Introduction [Anthropology & the Colonial Encounter] Talal Asad 33. Knowing the Oriental Edward W. Said 34. Introduction [Europe and the People Without History] Eric R. Wolf 35. Introduction: Toward Ethnographies of Communication Dell Hymes 36. The Subject and Power Michel Foucault 37. Structures, Habitus, and Practices Pierre Bourdieu 38. Partial Truths James Clifford 39. A Crisis of Representation in the Human Sciences George E. Marcus and Michael M.J. Fischer 40. A Critical-Interpretive Approach in Medical Anthropology: Rituals and Routines of Discipline and Descent Margaret Lock and Nancy Scheper-Hughes Part Four The Early Twenty-First Century Overview 41. Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy Arjun Appadurai 42. “We’re Here and We’re Queer!”: An Introduction to Studies in Queer Anthropology Michelle Walks 43. David Maybury-Lewis and Cultural Survival: Providing a Model for Public Anthropology, Advocacy, and Collaboration Louise Lamphere 44. Introduction [Other People’s Anthropologies] Aleksandar Bošković and Thomas Hylland Eriksen 45. An Indigenous Feminist’s Take on the Ontological Turn: “Ontology” Is Just Another Word for Colonialism Zoe Todd 46. From Kinship to Link-up: Cell Phones and Social Networking in Jamaica Heather Horst and Daniel Miller 47. Introduction: Contemporary Theoretical Debate in Archaeology [Archaeological Theory Today] Ian Hodder 48. Introduction [Is Science Racist?: Debating Race] Jonathan Marks 49. Earth Stalked by Man Anna Tsing Conclusion Sources Index of Key Words

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Book SynopsisEvidence that Neanderthals caught birds and used their feathers for decoration, along with recent discoveries of Neanderthal cave art, are challenging our preconceptions of the cognitive gap between Neanderthals and modern humans. Clive Finlayson draws on new evidence to overturn the old image of the Neanderthal, and our relationship with them.Trade ReviewIn this short, engaging book, Finlayson recounts his personal journey to find out about Neanderthals. In doing so, he effectively rattles the bars of the protective cage around our species uniqueness. * Clive Gamble, Archäologische Informationen *This is an anecdotal and quirky book, an act of storytelling in effect, but nonetheless persuasive for that ... The Smart Neanderthal is a touching, slightly eccentric contribution to an evolving story, finding, as all do in this field, tremendous significance in still scant evidence - but it is wonderfully suggestive and engaging. * David Sexton, Evening Standard *The Smart Neanderthal offers both a fascinating exploration of the latest Neanderthal discoveries and a superb study of the evolution of Neanderthals as cultural icons ... highly recommended to readers interested in evolutionary theory, human prehistory, and the complex afterlives of bones. * Lydia Pyne, Los Angeles Review of Books *The Best Science Books to Read For Summer 2019: From Gibraltar's swelter to a frigid Norwegian fjord, the evolutionary biologist takes readers on an adventure in unexpected revelations about this lost lineage of humans. * Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine *No one has done more for Neanderthal public relations than evolutionary archaeologist Clive Finlayson... I found The Smart Neandethal fascinating. * David Miles, Minerva *Well-written and accessible. * Antiquity *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Nana and flint 2: Neanderthals and birds 3: Lessons from the Arctic 4: The long-tailed duck 5: The white ghost 6: Gibraltar 7: The dynamic world of dunes 8: Lakes and plains 9: The great auk 10: Big eyes 11: Digging in the cave 12: Neanderthal real estate 13: Of seals and limpets 14: Birds of a feather 15: The golden eagle 16: Ambushing the scavengers 17: The big six 18: How to skin a vulture 19: Pigeons and choughs 20: Feeding the vultures 21: The hashtag and the end of the long road to Neanderthal emancipation Appendix 1 Bird Names used in the Text Appendix 2 Mammal Names used in the Text Endnotes Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed author Matt Ridley's thrilling follow-up to his bestseller 'Genome'. Armed with the extraordinary new discoveries about our genes, Ridley turns his attention to the nature versus nurture debate to bring the first popular account of the roots of human behaviour.Trade Review‘“Nature via Nurture” sets the modern terms for an ancient debate, and at the same time delivers a superb tutorial on contemporary genetics; the feedback loop that embraces genes and environment is generally not well understood. And yet this plasticity, this elegant mutuality, seems crucial if our new understanding of human nature is to inform public policy. These times need a book like this.’ Ian McEwan ‘Lucidly explains the most recent discoveries on what makes us what we are, and how we should think about these discoveries as we ponder who we want to be…A treat, written with insight, wisdom, and style.’ Steven Pinker, author of ‘The Blank Slate’ ‘Bracingly intelligent, lucid, balanced – witty, too. “Nature via Nurture” is a scrupulous and charming look at our modern understanding of genes and experience.’ Oliver Sacks ‘A real page-turner. What a superb writer he is, and he seems to get better and better.’ Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The Selfish Gene’

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Book SynopsisA remarkable investigation into the hominoids of Flores Island, their place on the evolutionary spectrum—and whether or not they still survive.While doing fieldwork on the remote Indonesian island of Flores, anthropologist Gregory Forth came across people talking about half-apelike, half-humanlike creatures that once lived in a cave on the slopes of a nearby volcano. Over the years he continued to record what locals had to say about these mystery hominoids while searching for ways to explain them as imaginary symbols of the wild or other cultural representations. Then along came the ‘hobbit’. In 2003, several skeletons of a small-statured early human species alongside stone tools and animal remains were excavated in a cave in western Flores. Named Homo floresiensis, this ancient hominin was initially believed to have lived until as recently as 12,000 years ago—possibly overlapping with the appearance of Homo sapiens on Flores. In view of this timing and the striking resemblance of floresiensis to the mystery creatures described by the islanders, Forth began to think about the creatures as possibly reflecting a real species, either now extinct but retained in ‘cultural memory’ or even still surviving. He began to investigate reports from the Lio region of the island where locals described 'ape-men' as still living. Dozens claimed to have even seen them. In Between Ape and Human, we follow Forth on the trail of this mystery hominoid, and the space they occupy in islanders’ culture as both natural creatures and as supernatural beings. In a narrative filled with adventure, Lio culture and language, zoology and natural history, Forth comes to a startling and controversial conclusion. Unique, important, and thought-provoking, this book will appeal to anyone interested in human evolution, the survival of species (including our own) and how humans might relate to ‘not-quite-human’ animals. Between Ape and Human is essential reading for all those interested in cryptozoology, and it is the only firsthand investigation by a leading anthropologist into the possible survival of a primitive species of human into recent times—and its coexistence with modern humans.Trade Review“Well-written and entertaining. Between Ape and Human tells not just the story of Homo floresiensis. It tells a story of how we perceive nature and how people deal with the unknown. It is as much about the science of our human relatives as it is about human nature and how we view the world. Forth compellingly grapples with how to interpret these observations and what they mean in the real world.” -- Rob DeSalle, American Museum of Natural History, author of A Natural History of Color"Between Ape and Human is fascinating reading for someone who understands that, while archeology trades in materials science and in firm estimates of dates and purpose, anthropology is about conversations and culture...[Forth] presents a record of the puzzling information that he collected and then sets out the anthropologist’s own ideas about whether the modern-day Flores hobbits descend directly from the ancient ones. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, you might want to read the book." * Forbes Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful new hardback anniversary edition of the multi-million copy sensationINCLUDES A NEW AFTERWORD FROM YUVAL NOAH HARARIWhat makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?One of the world's preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human. Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we're going.PRAISE FOR SAPIENS:'Interesting and provocative... It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack Obama'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last... It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans'Startling... It changes the way you look at the world' Simon Mayo'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species' Bill GatesTrade ReviewSapiens is a starburst of a book, as enjoyable as it is stimulating * Sunday Express *Unforgettably vivid language. I urge everyone to read it * H Edition *A fantastic book about how homo sapiens came to conquer the world * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisBuild your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right levelWhy can't humans fly? Why are ants so strong? Why can't elephants jump? Our shape and size controls what we can and can't do. Find out how humans and animals are perfectly designed to live in their particular habitats, and discover the role that evolution has played in this.White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.Text type: A simple non-fiction book.Pages 30 and 31 explore the main themes from the book.Curriculum links: Science: Ourselves; Literacy: Explanations.This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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Book SynopsisHumans are the only mammals to walk on two, rather than four, legs. From an evolutionary perspective, this is an illogical development, as it slows us down. But here we are, suggesting there must have been something tremendous to gain from bipedalism.First Steps takes our ordinary, everyday walking experience and reveals how unusual and extraordinary it truly is. The seven-million-year-long journey through the origins of upright walking shows how it was in fact a gateway to many of the other attributes that make us humanfrom our technological skills and sociality to our thirst for exploration.DeSilva uses early human evolution to explain the instinct that propels a crawling infant to toddle onto two feet, differences between how men and women tend to walk, physical costs of upright walking, including hernias, varicose veins and backache, and the challenges of childbirth imposed by a bipedal pelvis. And he theorises that upright walking may have laid the foundation for the traits of comTrade Review‘A book that strides confidently across complex terrain, laying out what we know about how walking works, who started doing it and when … DeSilva is a genial companion on this stroll through the deep origins of walking … Illuminating’ New York Times ‘This is breezy popular science at its best, interweaving anecdotes from the field and lab with scientific findings and the occasional pop culture reference … compelling’ Science News ‘Before our ancestors thought symbolically, before they used fire, before they made stone tools, or even entered the open savanna, our ancestors walked upright. In one way or another, this odd locomotory style has underwritten the whole spectrum of our vaunted human uniquenesses, from our manual dexterity to our hairless bodies, and our large brains. In the modern world it even influences the way other people recognise us at a distance, and it is crucial to our individual viability. In this authoritative but charmingly discursive and accessible book, Jeremy DeSilva lucidly explains how and why.’ Ian Tattersall, author of Masters of the Planet and The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack ‘Master anatomist and paleontologist Jeremy DeSilva makes no bones about the fact that when looking at fossils “I let myself be emotional …” Thus does this world expert and gifted story teller take us on a tour through the sprawling, complicated, saga of human origins. Drawing on his personal knowledge of topics ranging from sports medicine to childcare and his acquaintance with a host of colourful characters –whether lying inert in museum drawer, sitting behind microscopes or feuding with one other – DeSilva adds flesh and projects feelings onto the bones he studies, a tour de force of empathic understanding.’ Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, author of Mother Nature and Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding

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Book SynopsisProf Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and now lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specialising in World History. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind has become an international phenomenon attracting a legion of fans from Bill Gates and Barack Obama to Chris Evans and Jarvis Cocker, and is published in sixty languages worldwide. It was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller and was in the Top Ten for over nine months in paperback. His follow-up to Sapiens, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow was also a Top Ten Bestseller and was described by the Guardian as 'even more readable, even more important, than his excellent Sapiens'. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, was a Number One Bestseller and was described by Bill Gates as 'fascinating' and 'crucial'. Harari worked closely with renowned comics illustrator Daniel Casanave and co-writer David Vandermeulen to create his latest book, an adaptation of his first bestseller, Sapiens Graphic Novel: Volume 1.Trade ReviewI would recommend Sapiens to anyone who’s interested in the history and future of our species * Bill Gates *Interesting and provocative… It gives you a sense of how briefly we’ve been on this Earth * Barack Obama *Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last… It may be the best book I’ve ever read * Chris Evans *Tackles the biggest questions of history and the modern world… Written in unforgettably vivid language * Jared Diamond *Startling... It changes the way you look at the world * Simon Mayo *Sapiens is a starburst of a book, as enjoyable as it is stimulating * Sunday Express *One of the best books I’ve read recently… Gives an excellent overview of how our species has developed * Lily Cole *Sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain… Radiates power and clarity, making the world strange and new * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisChris Stringer is Britain's foremost expert on human origins and works in the Department of Palaeontology at the Natural History Museum. He also currently directs the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project, aimed at reconstructing the first detailed history of how and when Britain was occupied by early humans. His previous books include African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity, The Complete World of Human Evolution and most recently, Homo Britannicus, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book of the Year in 2007.Trade ReviewTo follow the dramatic announcements that will be appearing in the media pretty regularly from now on concerning new fossil finds and detailed genetic knowledge on the mutations that distinguish us from Neanderthals, other hominins, and apes, you will need a primer to make sense of the story so far. Here is that book. -- Peter Forbes * The Guardian *The Origin of Our Species combines anecdote and speculation with crisp explanation of the latest science in the study of the first humans. -- John Hawks * New Scientist *When it comes to human evolution [Chris Stringer] is as close to the horse's mouth as it gets...The Origin of Our Species should be the one-stop source on the subject. Read it now -- Henry Gee * BBC Focus *Combining the thrill of a novel with a remarkable depth of perspective, the book offers a panorama of recent developments...Stringer's original ideas will open up avenues for those who deal with genes, fossils or artefacts. -- Jean-Jacques Hublin * Nature *The Origin of Our Species [is] the right book by the right author at the right time. It highlights just how many tantalising discoveries and analytical advances have enriched the field in recent years, and folds them into an appropriately comprehensive, generous and nuanced reflection. -- Marek Kohn * Literary Review *The Origin of Our Species starts as a clear, perceptive survey. It ends by introducing a new way of defining us and our place in history -- Mike Pitts * Sunday Times *Sets out to tackle the big questions about human origins...written in a personal, unpretentious style...a laudable summary of a vital subject -- Matt Grove * British Archaeology *The most up to date synthesis available -- Steven Mithen * London Review of Books *Stringer's writing style is lucid and all-embracing, pulling information and ideas together from all conceivable sources to support his central narrative ... stimulating, informative and entertaining. It deserves to be widely read -- Stephen K. Donovan * Geological Journal *

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Book Synopsis* A TIMES BEST SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR *From the prize-winning author of Adventures in the Anthropocene, the astonishing story of how culture enabled us to become the most successful species on Earth''A wondrous, visionary work'' Tim Flannery, author of The Weather MakersHumans are a planet-altering force. Gaia Vince argues that our unique ability - compared with other species - to determine the course of our own destiny rests on a special relationship between our genes, environment and culture going back into deep time. It is our collective culture, rather than our individual intelligence, that makes humans unique. Vince shows how four evolutionary drivers - Fire, Language, Beauty and Time - are further transforming our species into a transcendent superorganism: a hyper-cooperative mass of humanity that she calls Homo omnis. Drawing on leading-edge advances in population genetics, archaeology, palaeontology and neuroscience, Transcendence compels us to reimagine ourselves, showing us to be on the brink of something grander - and potentially more destructive.''Richly informed by the latest research, Gaia Vince''s colourful survey fizzes like a zip-wire as it tours our species'' story from the Big Bang to the coming age of hypercooperation'' Richard Wrangham, author of The Goodness Paradox''Wonderful ... enlightening'' Robin Ince, The Infinite Monkey CageTrade ReviewA hugely enjoyable sprint through human evolutionary history . . . Read it. -- Tim Radford * Nature *Beautifully written . . . At her best Vince takes dizzying leaps, making connections between archaeology, anthropology, genetics and psychology. She is especially good on the delicate interplay between genes, environment and culture. Vince steps with lightness. -- Tom Whipple * The Times *The storming success of Yuval Noah Harari's books has inspired many others that aim to span the epic sweep of human history with grand theories and cor-blimey factoids. This book does both. -- The Times * Best Science and Medicine Books of the Year *Here is the miraculous creature we are: unlikely, poignant, astonishing ... Much to think about. This book gives rise to many such thoughts and is written with merciful clarity. -- Sebastian BarryWonderful ... enlightening. -- Robin InceRichly informed by the latest research, Gaia Vince's colourful survey fizzes like a zip-wire as it tours our species' story from the Big Bang to the coming age of hypercooperation. -- Richard Wrangham, Professor of biological anthropology at Harvard University and author of The Goodness ParadoxAn imaginative and inspiring adventure into the origins and evolution of what we hold most dear: our human culture. -- Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development UCLThis book goes from the Big Bang to the Hundred Thousand Genome Project to make a convincing case that Homo sapiens has become a super-organism. I learned a lot from it and so will you. -- Steve Jones, Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics UCL, author of Almost Like a Whale

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIf you want to understand human success, its biological and cultural components, start with this groundbreaking collection. Essays authored by experts from many disciplines—paleoanthropology, biology, philosophy, and more. Top-quality scholarship, jargon free. I feel proud to be part of a community of scholars such as these. * Michael Ruse, Florida State University (Emeritus) *Table of ContentsEditor and Contributor Biographies 1. Introduction: The Manifold Challenges to Understanding Human Success Hugh Desmond and Grant Ramsey Part I: What is Evolutionary Success? 2. Evolutionary Success: Standards of Value Dan McShea 3. Human Success: A Contextual and Pluralistic View Marion Hourdequin 4. Human success as a complex of autonomy, adaptation, and niche construction Bernd Rosslenbroich Part II: Explaining Human Success 5. The Origin and Evolution of Human Uniqueness Geerat Vermeij 6. Wanderlust: A View from Deep Time of Dispersal, Persistence, and Human Success Susan Antón 7. Culture as a life-history character: the cognitive continuum in primates and hominins Matt Grove 8. A Gene-Culture Coevolutionary Perspective on Human Success Kathryn Demps and Peter Richerson Part III. Human Success in the Anthropocene 9. Anthropocene patterns in stratigraphy as a perspective on human success Jan Zalasiewicz, Mark Williams, Colin Waters 10. Utter success and extensive inequity: Assessing processes, patterns, and outcomes of the human niche in the Anthropocene Agustín Fuentes 11. Adaptability and the Continuation of Human Origins Richard Potts 12. Evolving Measures of Moral Success Allen Buchanan and Rachell Powell 13. Future Human Success: Beyond Techno-Libertarianism Hugh Desmond

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Book SynopsisA powerful and critical investigation of iron deficiency in women throughout evolutionary history and in our current societyWomen of the world are beset by a hidden hunger: iron deficiency. Up to 40% of reproductive-aged women across the globe have iron deficiency anemia, and it contributes to 20% of maternal deaths. Despite these dire statistics, women are not routinely screened for iron deficiency. Iron deficiency has been used as a tool to control, categorize, and even ignore women and their suffering. Biomedical remedies - mostly iron supplementation - are unequally and indifferently applied to global populations of women. Thicker Than Water explores the reasons women are especially vulnerable, using evolutionary theory and social theory to understand the causes and consequences of iron deficiency in women. Contrary to popular belief, homeostasis protects the iron stores of women from iron loss during menstruation. Women''s iron metabolism has evolved to balance the benefits and da

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Book SynopsisOur ability to think is one of our most puzzling characteristics. What it would be like to be unable to think? What would it be like to lack self-awareness? The complexity of this activity is striking. Thinking involves the interaction of a range of mental processes - attention, emotion, memory, planning, self-consciousness, free will, and language. So where did these processes arise? What evolutionary advantages were bestowed upon those with an ability to deceive, to plan, to empathize, or to understand the intentions of others? In this compelling work, Peter Gärdenfors embarks on an evolutionary detective story to try and solve one of the big mysteries surrounding human existence - how has the modern human being''s way of thinking come into existence. He starts by taking in turn the more basic cognitive processes, such as attention and memory, then builds upon these to explore more complex behaviours, such as self-consciousness, mindreading, and imitation. Having done this, he examines the consequences of putting thought into the world, using external media like cave paintings, drawings and writing.Immensely readable and humorous, the book will be valuable for students in psychology and biology, whilst remaining accessible to readers of popular science.Trade ReviewGardenfors presents a wealth of thought-provoking information and discussion, with a well-argued viewpoint, in a clear style. * JBE, Vol. 40, No. 4 *. . . well written and admirably succinct. Although it has an argument to make, it does so in a fair and evenhanded way. This would make a good introduction for anyone venturing into the evolution of mind literature for the first time. * Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol 79, No 4 *Table of Contents1. THINKING FROM AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE; 2. SENSATION, PERCEPTION AND IMAGINATION; 3. THE WORLD WITHIN; 4. READING OTHER PEOPLE'S MINDS; 5. SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS; 6. THE DAWN OF LANGUAGE; 7. THE ORIGIN OF SPEECH; 8. EXTERNALISING THE INNER WORLD

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Book SynopsisThe discoveries of the last decade have brought about a completely revised understanding of human evolution due to the recent advances in genetics, palaeontology, ecology, archaeology, geography, and climate science. Written by two leading authorities in the fields of physical anthropology and molecular evolution, Processes in Human Evolution presents a reconsidered overview of hominid evolution, synthesising data and approaches from a range of inter-disciplinary fields. The authors pay particular attention to population migrations - since these are crucial in understanding the origin and dispersion of the different genera and species in each continent - and to the emergence of the lithic cultures and their impact on the evolution of cognitive capacities.Processes in Human Evolution is intended as a primary textbook for university courses on human evolution, and may also be used as supplementary reading in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. It is also suitable for a more general audience seeking a readable but up-to-date and inclusive treatment of human origins and evolution.Table of Contents1: Evolution, Genetics, and Systematics 2: Taxonomy 3: The Origin of Hominins 4: Miocene and Early Pliocene Hominins 5: Middle and Upper Pliocene Hominins 6: The Emergence of the Genus Homo 7: Lithic Traditions: Tool Making 8: Middle and Lower Pleistocene: The Homo Radiation 9: Hominin Transition to Late Pliocene 10: Species of the Late Pleistocene 11: Neandertals and Modern Humans: Similarities and Differences

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Book SynopsisThe history has resurrected from northern Europe's bogs several men, women, and children who were deposited there as sacrifices in the early Iron Age and kept intact by the chemical properties of peat. Offering an account of their modern afterlives, this title argues that the discovery of bog bodies began an extraordinary cultural journey.Trade Review"What a wonderful, wonderful book this is. I absolutely loved Bodies in the Bog and everything about it, from the thoughtful approach and beautiful writing to the well-contextualized discussions of bog bodies in psychology, poetry, art, museum display, and facial reconstruction. A truly interdisciplinary study clearly based on years of passionate research, it offers a rich and nuanced explanation of what makes these bodies so fascinating, appealing, and troubling." - Stephanie Moser, University of Southampton"

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Book SynopsisOffers a social history of Chinese paleoanthropology and a cultural - and at times comparative - history of assumptions and debates about what it means to be human. Focusing on issues that push against the boundaries of science and politics, this book offers an innovative approach to modern Chinese history and the history of science.Trade Review"This is one of the few books on science in twentieth-century China, a burgeoning area of research, and the first book on popular science in China. The People's Peking Man unquestionably breaks new ground." - Fa-ti Fan, Binghamton University"

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Book SynopsisOffers a social history of Chinese paleoanthropology and a cultural - and at times comparative - history of assumptions and debates about what it means to be human. Focusing on issues that push against the boundaries of science and politics, this book offers an innovative approach to modern Chinese history and the history of science.Trade Review"This is one of the few books on science in twentieth-century China, a burgeoning area of research, and the first book on popular science in China. The People's Peking Man unquestionably breaks new ground." - Fa-ti Fan, Binghamton University"

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Book SynopsisVan Riper chronicles the Victorian debate over the idea of prehistoric human origins within the context of Victorian science, showing how the notion of human antiquity forced Victorians to redefine their assumptions about human evolution and the relationship of science to Christianity.

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Book SynopsisTracing mankind's evolution from the birth of life on Earth three billion years ago to the emergence of modern human beings, this volume explains how the field of evolutionary study has been aided by research in comparative anatomy and molecular biology.Table of ContentsHumanity and us; a long story, briefly told; prosimians - types and collateral branches; Africa - the original home?; Micoene lady; the fork in the road; hominids before homo; animals and humans; the ape-man; humans in the European Ice Age; us; the present and the future.

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Book SynopsisThere is intense debate over whether humans evolved from a single, African group of hominids (the 'Out of Africa' theory) or from several different populations from different regions. Here, Dr Lahr presents hard evidence for the 'Out of Africa' option, in a book which will be a must for all those interested in human evolution.Trade Review'Lahr deserves a lot of credit for her very thorough presentation of so much evidence. Supporters of multi-regional evolution will be hard pressed to counter her main points.' Tree' … an important study … likely to remain an essential reference in the debate over recent human evolution for the foreseeable future.' Alan Bilsborough, Annals of Human BiologyTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. The modern human origins debate; Part I. Multiregional Evolution as the Source of Human Cranial Diversity: 3. The morphological basis of the multiregional model; 4. The regional expression of the East Asian and Australian continuity traits; 5. Temporal distribution of the 'Regional Continuity Traits' in late Pleistocene hominids; 6. The independence of expression of the 'Regional Continuity Traits'; 7. Multiregional evolution as the source of recent regional cranial diversity; a review; Part II. The Evolution of Modern Human Cranial Diversity from a Single Ancestral Source: 8. Cranial variation in Homo sapiens; 9. Morphological differentiation from a single ancestral source; 10. Geographical differentiation from a single ancestral source; 11. The evolution of modern human cranial diversity; 12. Final conclusions; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisOlduvai Groge is a valley in the Serengeti Plains at the western margin of the Eastern Rift Valley in northern Tanzania. The formations discussed in this volume, Beds I and II, were deposited in the Lower and Middle Pleistocene and have yielded large quantities of the remains of early man, in the form of bones and stone tools and evidence of the environment in which they lived. Bed I, in which remains of Australopithecus boisei and Homo habilis have been found, is firmly dated between 1.9 million years for the lowest level and 1.65 million years for a level below the top. This third volume describes the excavations. In Part I, starting with the lowest levels and devoting a chapter to each main level, Dr Leakey describes the actual process of excavation and the finding of the principal remains. In Part II, Dr Leakey describes the circumstances of the discovery of the hominid skeletal remains. These range from purposive excavation to accidental discovery while collecting small stones forTable of ContentsList of figures; List of tables; List of plates; Introductory note; Foreword Professor J. D. Clark; Acknowledgements; Map; Introduction; Geologic background of Beds I and II: Stratigraphic summary Professor R. L. Hay; Part I: 1. Lower bed I. Site DK and site FLK NN: Level 4; 2. Middle bed I. Site FLK NN: Levels 1–3. Site FLK: the 'zinjanthropus' level and the upper levels; 3. Upper bed I and lower bed II. Site FLK north: Levels 1–6, the clay with root casts and the Deinotherium level. Site HWK east: Levels 1 and 2; 4. The lower part of middle bed II. Site HWK east: the sandy conglomerate: Levels 3–5; 5. The upper part of middle bed II. Site EF–HR. The main occupation site at MNK. Sites FC west and FC. Site SHK; 6. Upper bed II. Sites TK and BK; Part II. 7. The discoveries of hominid remains; 8. Mammalian bones from Beds I and II with evidence of hominid modification; 9. The faunal remains from the living sites in Beds I and II; 10. Summary and discussion; Appendices; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe chimpanzee, of all other living species, is our closest relation, with whom we last shared a common ancestor about 5 million years ago. These African apes make and use a rich and varied kit of tools, and of the primates they are the only consistent and habitual tool-users and tool-makers. Chimpanzees meet the criteria of culture as originally defined for human beings by socio-cultural anthropologists. They show sex differences in using tools to obtain and to process a variety of plant and animal foods. The technological gap between chimpanzees and human societies that live by foraging (hunter-gatherers) is surprisingly narrow, at least for food-getting. Different communities of wild chimpanzees have different tool-kits, and not all of this regional and local variation can be explained by the demands of the physical and biotic environments in which they live. Some differences are likely to be customs based on socially derived and symbolically encoded traditions. Chimpanzees serve asTrade Review' … masterfully integrates primatology and (paleo)anthropology …' Elisabetta Visalberghi, ScienceTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Patterns of culture?; 2. Studying chimpanzees; 3. Chimpanzees as apes; 4. Cultured chimpanzees?; 5. Chimpanzee sexes; 6. Chimpanzees and foragers; 7. Chimpanzees compared; 8. Chimpanzee ethnology; 9. Chimpanzees as models; 10. What chimpanzees are, are not, and might be; References; Appendix; Index.

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Book SynopsisWhen did the first humans arrive in Britain? Where did they come from? And what did they look like? This is the amazing story of human life in Britain. It begins nearly one million years ago, during the earliest known human occupation, and reveals how humans have periodically lived there ever since.Trade Review"A beautifully written and illustrated account." Financial Times

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the PROSE Award in Biological Anthropology, Ancient History, and Archaeology, Association of American Publishers""I highly recommend this book to everybody interested in New World monkeys, be it scientists, students in all stages of their scientific training or informed laymen. I am convinced that the controversial issues raised in this book will stimulate further research, bringing the 'evolutionary odyssey' closer to a safe harbour of knowledge."---Eckhard W. Heymann, Primate Biology"[A] great primer for individuals who are new to primatology, but also a thought-provoking read for seasoned researchers who will benefit fromhis 'big picture' view of the platyrrhine radiation."---Leila M. Porter, The Quarterly Review of Biology"This is an admirable book, ready to be enjoyed by primate specialists and general readers alike."---Mark Terry, American Biology Teacher"Primatologists and biological anthropologists—whether just starting out or well into their careers—will have an interest in this work."---E.J. Sargis, CHOICE"[A] comprehensive and incredibly accessible book." * Inquisitive Biologist *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A new and compelling evolutionary stance on comparative cognition." * Choice *

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Book SynopsisIn South Florida, an old-timer is one who has lived there for over five years. This work considers the culture history of the real South Florida old-timers from 10,000 BC to the invasion by Europeans, analysing how they adapted to their environment over time, and how it adapted to them.

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Book SynopsisWritten for a general audience who are interested in or are concerned about body weight, fatness, or obesity, either personally or professionally. It unpacks the complexity of obesity, and why it has proven impossible to fix, using perspectives from biology, social science, public policy, medicine and public health.Trade Review'This excellent, highly accessible book is for anyone who struggles to make sense of the conflicting portrayals of obesity in our media and across society. Stanley Ulijaszek takes the reader on a fascinating journey from genetics to ultra-processed foods, from swimming to stigma. He explores the latest science to unpick assumptions and misconceptions about obesity in ways that are both enlightening and entertaining, throwing fresh light on this highly complex challenge.' Harry Rutter, Professor of Global Public Health, University of Bath'This is a gem! In particular for someone entering obesity research with a wish of acquiring a broader perspective of a complex area. Professor Ulijaszek's profound knowledge, ranging from social, anthropological to biological aspects of obesity is generously shared. He provides the reader with the key steps on how the concepts of obesity have developed historically and how this impacts on the human being today. The writing is crisp and clear, simply a delight to read.' Fredrik Karpe, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Oxford'The rising rate of obesity despite scientific and medical advances and dissemination thereof is a complicated paradox - one that warrants careful, thoughtful assessment. Stanley Ulijaszek has furnished just such an assessment in this highly engaging and accessible book, which deftly dissects prominent narrative axioms of the public discourse of obesity and clarifies, in each case, the particular disconnects between science and popular understanding. It's long been clear that obesity is not simply a matter of biology, nor its redress one of the right practice or policy. Accordingly, this careful parsing is a valuable and vital contribution to understanding the myriad contexts and entanglements that shape public understandings of obesity, as well as what productive responses might look like in that complicated terrain.' Helene A. Shugart, Distinguished Professor of Communication, University of Utah'Obesity is a complex problem, but in this handy book, Professor Stanley Ulijaszek masterfully explains and simplifies all of the nuances from causes to effects to solutions. With the unique perspective of an anthropologist focussed on food and behaviour, he is able to carefully explain in real simple language why the answer to many of the recurrent questions is 'Yes and No'. Things aren't always as straightforward as they seem but here we have easy-to-understand explanations of all the important aspects in the obesity equation, from genes to brains, the bugs in your gut, the place where you live, the food we eat and how it's designed and marketed by food companies.' Michael I. Goran, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Research, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, and author of Sugarproof'Understanding Obesity reflects on all aspects of obesity, from the more individual to the more societal: genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, stigma, the food environment, food companies, health inequalities and insecurity … Written in a clear and engaging style, it provides an account of the complexity of obesity, calling for multifaceted, carefully considered responses, and inviting us - ultimately - to be more compassionate human beings towards one another. This book could only have been written by someone such as Stanley Ulijaszek who has immense interdisciplinary expertise, an inquisitive mind and a genuine worldwide view. A small but mighty book!' Amandine Garde, Professor of Law, University of LiverpoolTable of Contents1. I'm too fat; 2. It's my genes; 3. It's my metabolism; 4. I blame the food corporations; 5. I blame society; 6. You've only got yourself to blame; 7. You eat too much; 8. You don't get out enough; 9. Understanding the imperfect storm; Summary of common misunderstandings; References; Figure credits; Index.

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Book SynopsisChildren growing up in harsh environments may develop intact, or even enhanced, skills for solving problems in high-adversity contexts (i.e., 'hidden talents'). This Element proposes that stress-adapted skills represent a form of adaptive intelligence enabling individuals to function within the constraints of harsh environments.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Current Evidence for Hidden Talents; 3. Neural Plasticity Enables the Development of Hidden Talents; 4. Hidden Talents as Adaptive Intelligence; 5. Leveraging Hidden Talents in Education; 6. Incorporating Hidden Talents into Social Work Theory and Practice; 7. The Hidden Talents Approach Compared with Traditional Models of Resilience; 8. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThrough a set of unique case studies written by an international group of practicing forensic anthropologists, Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology: Bonified Skeletons prepares students and professionals for the diverse range of cases and challenges they will encounter in the field. Every forensic anthropology case is unique. Practitioners routinely face new challenges and unexpected outcomes. Courses and introductory texts generally address standard or ideal cases. In practice, however, forensic anthropologists must improvise frequently during forensic archaeological recoveries and laboratory analyses based on case circumstances. Most forensic anthropologists have encountered unconventional cases with surprising results. While these cases act as continuing education for practitionersâbetter preparing them for future encountersâ such learning opportunities may be limited by the extent of personal experiences. This text exposes practitioners and students Table of ContentsI: Estimation of the Biological Profile & Positive Identification1: Death Along the Tracks: The Role of Forensic Anthropology and Social Media in a Homicide Investigation, Eric J. Bartelink2: The Skull in Concrete: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identification, Kristen Hartnett-McCann and Ruth E. Kohlmeier 3: The Use of Medical Implants to Aid in the Identification Process, Jennifer Vollner 4: Biomechanical Analysis of Long Bones Provides the Crucial Break in Decedent Identification, Daniel J. Wescott 5: Race and the Role of Sociocultural Context in Forensic Anthropological Ancestry Assessment, Michala K. Stock and Katie M. Rubin 6: Globalization, Transnationalism, and the Analytical Feasibility of Ancestry Estimation, Joseph T. Hefner and Jennifer F. ByrnesII: Forensic Taphonomy7: What Forensic Taphonomy Can Do for You: A Case Study in Rural Pennsylvania, Andrea M. Ost, Rhian R. Dunn, and Dennis C. Dirkmaat 8: Dismembered, Burned, and Dumped: But in What Order?, Lindsay H. Trammell 9: Body in the Barrel: Complex Body Disposal and Recovery, Soren Blau and David Ranson 10: Sealed for Your Protection: A Triple Homicide Involving the Use of a Corrosive Agent to Obscure Identity, Laura C. Fulginiti, Kristen M. Hartnett-McCann, and Frank Di Modica 11: Differential Diagnosis in Forensic Entomology: Mites vs. Pathologies and Taphonomy, César Sanabria-Medina, Luz Elena Cifuentes, and Maria Alexandra Lopez-Cerquera 12. Lacustrine Skeletal Taphonomy from Southeastern Tennessee, Murray K. Marks, Jonathan D. Bethard, and Darinka Mileusnic-PolchanIII: Trauma13: Who Pulled the Trigger…First? Bone Biomechanics Recreate the Story Behind a "Police Shooting," Steven A. Symes, Ericka N. L’Abbé, and Mark M. LeVaughn 14: Forensic Anthropological Contributions to Manner of Death in a Case of Multiple Suicidal Gunshot Wounds, Diana L. Messer 15: A Unique Case of Skeletal Trauma Involving Scissors, Alexandra R. Klales 16: Sharp Force Trauma with Subsequent Fire Alteration: A Complicated Case Study, Erin N. Chapman 17: Forensic Anthropology's Role in Clarifying Cause of Death in the Appeal of a No Body Homicide Conviction, Ashley E. Kendell, Eric J. Bartelink, and Turhon MuradIV: Human Rights and Mass Disasters18: A Multi-Year Forensic Archaeological Recovery of Human Remains from a C-124 Cargo Aircraft Crash on Colony Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A., Gregory E. Berg, Owen L. O’Leary, and Kelley S. Esh 19: Quadrilateral Defects in the Tuskulenai and Leon Trotsky Cases: Skeletal Trauma Associated with Soviet Violence in Two Different Contexts, Cate E. Bird and Rimantas Jankauskas 20: Sexual Offense in Skeletonized Cadavers: Analysis, Interpretation, Documentation and Case Report, César Sanabria-Medina, Jorge Andrés Franco Zuluaga, and María Alexandra Lopez-Cerquera 21: Making the Best of Limited Resources and Challenges Faced in Human Rights Investigations, Eugénia Cunha, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Cristina Cordeiro, and Duarte Nuno Vieira 22: Search for Spanish Civil War Victims in the Cemetery of Sant Ferran, Formentera (Spain): Oral Witness Testimonies, Secondary Deposition Site and Peri-Mortem Trauma, Almudena García-Rubio, Juanjo Marí Casanova, Glenda Graziani, Francisca Cardona, Pau Sureda, Sergi Moreno, Nicholas Márquez-Grant 23: Excavation and Analysis of Human Remains from Mass Graves in the Western Sahara, Francisco Etxeberria, Lourdes Herrasti, and Carlos Martin-BeristainV: Other Considerations24: The Use of Human Skeletal Remains in Palo Rituals in Orange County, Florida, John J. Schultz, Ashley E. Green, Ronald A. Murdock II, Marie H. Hansen, Joshua D. Stephany, and Jan C. Garavaglia 25: To Understand the Parts, it is Necessary to Understand the Whole: The Importance of Contextualizing Patterns in Forensic Anthropology Casework, Laura C. Fulginiti, Andrew Seidel, Katelyn Bolhofner 26: Perpetrators, Pack Rats, and Postmortem Disturbances: A Case Study Involving Multiple Contexts, Jurisdictions, and Identities, Angela Berg, Kent Buehler, and Carlos Zambrano 27: The Case of the … Cases: The Flow of the Ordinary into a Medical Examiner’s Office, James T. Pokines

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Book SynopsisThe Routledge Handbook of Archaeothanatology spans the gap between archaeology and biological anthropology, the field and laboratory, and between francophone and anglophone funerary archaeological approaches to the remains of the dead and the understanding of societies, past and present.Interest in archaeothanatology has grown considerably in recent years in English-language scholarship. This timely publication moves away from anecdotal case studies to offer syntheses of archaeothanatological approaches with an eye to higher-level inferences about funerary behaviour and its meaning in the past. Written by francophone scholars who have contributed to the development of the field and anglophone scholars inspired by the approach, this volume offers detailed insight into the background and development of archaeothanatology, its theory, methods, applications, and its most recent advances, with a lexicon of related vocabulary.This volume is a key source for archaeo-anTrade ReviewWinner of the European Association of Archaeologists Archaeology Book Prize 2023'For too long, language has divided French and English-speaking researchers over approaches to the archaeology of death. This very substantial volume brings them together for the first time in a major endeavour which reveals the range and potential of archaeothanatological approaches.' ~ Mike Parker Pearson, University College London, United Kingdom'Harking back on many decades of evolving archaeothanatology in action, this book certainly sets a new global standard both in burial excavations and depositional reconstructions of human skeletal remains and their contexts.' ~ Vera Tiesler, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, MexicoTable of ContentsIntroduction: Archaeothanatology, funerary archaeology and bioarchaeology: perspectives on the long view of death and the dead Christopher J. Knüsel and Eline M.J. Schotsmans Part I: Archaeothanatology – methodological guidelines 1. Methodological guidelines for archaeothanatological practice Frédérique Blaizot 2. A tale of two worlds: Terminologies in archaeothanatologyBruno Boulestin3. Words between two worlds: Collective graves and related issues in burial terminology Bruno Boulestin and Patrice Courtaud4. Secondary cremation burials of past populations: Some methodological procedures for excavation, bone fragment identification and sex determinationGermaine Depierre 5. The accompanying deadBruno Boulestin6. Denied funeral rites: The contribution of the archaeothanatological approach Aurore SchmittPart II: Period-specific applications 7. Early primary burials: Evidence from Southwestern AsiaAnne-marie Tillier8. The earliest European burials Bruno Maureille 9. Beyond the formal analysis of funerary practices? Archaeothanatology as a reflexive tool for considering the role of the dead amongst the living: A Natufian case study Fanny Bocquentin 10. What can archaeothanatology add? A case study of new knowledge and theoretical implications in the re-study of Mesolithic burials in Sweden and DenmarkLiv Nilsson Stutz11. Neolithic burials of infants and childrenMélie Le Roy and Stéphane Rottier12. Defining collective burials: Three case studiesAurore Schmitt13. Different burial types but common practice: The case of the funerary complex at Barbuise and La Saulsotte (France) at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age Stéphane Rottier14. Deathways of the Durotriges: Reconstructing identity through archaeothanatology in later Iron Age southern BritainKarina Gerdau-Radonić, Janne Sperrevik, Martin Smith, Paul Cheetham, and Miles Russell15. The Roman cemetery of Porta Nocera at Pompeii: The contribution of osteological re-associations to the study of secondary cremation burialsHenri Duday16. Reopening graves for the removal of objects and bones: Cultural practices and looting Edeltraud Aspöck, Karina Gerdau-Radonić and Astrid Noterman17. Cluniac funerary practicesEleanor Williams18. ‘Bring out your dead’: Funerary and public health practices in times of epidemic diseaseDominique Castex and Sacha Kacki19. Jewish funerary practices in Medieval EuropePhilippe Blanchard20. Islamic burials: Muslim graves and graves of MuslimsYves Gleize21. Recognising a slave cemetery: An example from colonial-period Guadeloupe, Lesser AntillesPatrice Courtaud and Thomas RomonPart III: Archaeothanatology of associated remains22. Archaeothanatological approaches to associated remains in funerary contexts in Europe: An overviewIsabelle Cartron and Aurélie Zemour23. An archaeothanatological approach to the identification of late Anglo-Saxon burials in wooden containersEmma C. Green24. Ceramic studies in funerary contexts from Roman GaulChristine Bonnet25. Animal remains in burialsPatrice Méniel 26. The walking dead – life after death: archaeoentomological evidence in a Roman catacomb: (Saints Marcellinus and Peter, central area, 1st-3rd century AD)Jean-Bernard Huchet and Dominique CastexPart IV: Applied sciences, experiments and legal considerations27. From flesh to bone: building bridges between taphonomy, archaeothanatology and forensic science for a better understanding of mortuary practices Eline M.J. Schotsmans, Patrice Georges-Zimmerman, Maiken Ueland, and Boyd B. Dent28. Exploring the use of actualistic forensic taphonomy in the study of (forensic) archaeological human burials: An actualistic experimental research programme at the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University (FACTS), San Marcos, TexasHayley L. Mickleburgh, Daniel J. Wescott, Sarah Gluschitz, and M. Victor Klinkenberg29. An experimental approach to the interpretation of prehistoric cremation and cremation burialsMogens B. Henriksen 30. The taphonomic and archaeothanatological potentials of diagenetic alterations of archaeological boneThomas J. Booth, David Brönniman, Richard Madgwick, and Cordula Portmann31. 3D models as useful tools in archaeothanatologyGéraldine Sachau-Carcel32. Use of archaeothanatology in preventive (salvage/rescue) archaeology and field research archaeology Mark Guillon33. Managing and reburying ancient human remains in France: From legal and ethical concerns to field practicesGaëlle ClavandierPart V: Lexicon of archaeothanatological terms34. Lexicon of terms used in archaeothanatology: A work still in the process of becoming Christopher J. Knüsel, Karina Gerdau-Radonić, and Eline M.J. Schotsmans

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Book SynopsisWith its broad focus ranging from medicine to history, this book provides a solid historical understanding of how the nature of past cultures and civilisations affects human risk of disease. For readers fascinated by ancient societies and past civilizations as well as those intrigued by the health of our ancestors.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Near Eastern civilizations; 3. Ancient Egypt and Nubia; 4. The prehistoric peoples of Europe; 5. The Roman world; 6. Medieval Europe; 7. East Asian civilizations; 8. North American indigenous peoples; 9. South and Central American civilizations; 10. Parasites, migrations and epidemics; 11. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of the first species of African hominin, Australopithecus africanus, from Taung, South Africa in 1924, launched the study of fossil man in Africa. New discoveries continue to confirm the importance of this region to our understanding of human evolution. Outlining major developments since Raymond Dart's description of the Taung skull and, in particular, the impact of the pioneering work of Phillip V. Tobias, this book will be a valuable companion for students and researchers of human origins. It presents a summary of the current state of palaeoanthropology, reviewing the ideas that are central to the field, and provides a perspective on how future developments will shape our knowledge about hominin emergence in Africa. A wide range of key themes are covered, from the earliest fossils from Chad and Kenya, to the origins of bipedalism and the debate about how and where modern humans evolved and dispersed across Africa.Trade Review'African Genesis is a good contribution to the paleoanthropological literature and it will undoubtedly find its way into many university libraries.' Jeremy M. DeSilva, American Journal of Human BiologyTable of ContentsList of contributors; Foreword J. T. Francis Thackeray; 1. African genesis: an evolving paradigm Sally C. Reynolds; 2. Academic genealogy Peter Ungar and Phillip V. Tobias; Part I. In Search of Origins: Evolutionary Theory, New Species, and Paths into the Past: 3. Speciation in hominin evolution Colin Groves; 4. Searching for a new paradigm for hominid origins in Chad (Central Africa) Michel Brunet; 5. From hominoid arboreality to hominid bipedalism Brigitte Senut; 6. Orrorin and the African ape/hominid dichotomy Martin Pickford; 7. A brief history and results of 40 years of Sterkfontein excavations Ronald J. Clarke; Part II. Hominin Morphology Through Time: Brains, Bodies and Teeth: 8. Hominin brain evolution, 1925–2011: an emerging overview Dean Falk; 9. The issue of brain reorganisation in Australopithecus and early hominids: Dart had it right Ralph L. Holloway; 10. The mass of the human brain: is it a spandrel? Paul R. Manger, Jason Hemingway, Muhammad Spocter and Andrew Gallagher; 11. Origin and diversity of early hominin bipedalism Henry M. McHenry; 12. Forelimb adaptations in Australopithecus afarensis Michelle S. M. Drapeau; 13. Hominin proximal femur morphology from the Tugen Hills to Flores Brian G. Richmond and William L. Jungers; 14. Daily rates of dentine formation and root extension rates in Paranthropus boisei, KNM-ER 1817, from Koobi Fora, Kenya M. Christopher Dean; 15. On the evolutionary development of early hominid molar teeth and the Gondolin Paranthropus molar Kevin L. Kuykendall; 16. Digital South African fossils: morphological studies using reference-based reconstruction and electronic preparation Gerhard W. Weber, Philipp Gunz, Simon Neubauer, Philipp Mitteroecker and Fred L. Bookstein; Part III. Modern Human Origins: Patterns, and Processes: 17. Body size in African Middle Pleistocene Homo Steven E. Churchill, Lee R. Berger, Adam Hartstone-Rose and Headman Zondo; 18. The African origin of recent humanity Milford H. Wolpoff and Sang-Hee Lee; 19. Assimilation and modern human origins in the African peripheries Fred H. Smith, Vance T. Hutchinson and Ivor Janković; 20. Patterns of Middle Pleistocene hominin evolution in Africa and the emergence of modern humans Emma Mbua and Günter Bräuer; 21. Integration of the genetic, anatomical, and archaeological data for the African origin of modern humans: problems and prospects Osbjorn M. Pearson; Part IV. In Search of Context: Hominin Environments, Behaviour and Lithic Cultures: 22. Animal palaeocommunity variability and habitat preference of robust australopiths in South Africa Darryl J. de Ruiter, Matt Sponheimer and Julia Lee-Thorp; 23. Impacts of environmental change and community ecology on the composition and diversity of the southern African monkey fauna from the Plio-Pleistocene to the present Sarah Elton; 24. African genesis revisited: reflections on Raymond Dart and the 'Predatory Transition from Ape(-Man) to Man' Travis R. Pickering; 25. Shared intention in early artefacts: an exploration of deep structure and implications for communication and language John A. J. Gowlett; 26. Sibudu Cave: recent archaeological work on the Middle Stone Age Lyn Wadley; 27. The oldest burials and their significance Avraham Ronen; Index.

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Book SynopsisDid Neanderthals have language, and if so, what was it like? Scientists agree overall that the behaviour and cognition of Neanderthals resemble that of early modern humans in important ways. However, the existence and nature of Neanderthal language remains a controversial topic. The first in-depth treatment of this intriguing subject, this book comes to the unique conclusion that, collective hunting is a better window on Neanderthal language than other behaviours. It argues that Neanderthal hunters employed linguistic signs akin to those of modern language, but lacked complex grammar. Rudolf Botha unpacks and appraises important inferences drawn by researchers working in relevant branches of archaeology and other prehistorical fields, and uses a large range of multidisciplinary literature to bolster his arguments. An important contribution to this lively field, this book will become a landmark book for students and scholars alike, in essence, illuminating Neanderthals'' linguistic poweTrade Review'Searching for the origin of human language has over the last decades developed into a lively field of scholarly discourse, generating a range of new hypotheses. But are these hypotheses really empirically sound? There is no one to answer this question more competently than Botha, as he demonstrates once again in this thrilling book on Neanderthal language.' Bernd Heine, University of Cologne'Botha examines both the evidence and the reasoning behind the various claims for Neanderthal linguistic abilities and finds them all wanting. Most usefully, he sets out a general framework for evaluating such inferences, a framework that is applicable not just in the parochial domain of Neanderthal studies, but in any scientific interpretation of behaviour in the deep past.' Thomas Wynn, University of Colorado'… a paradigm shift for anthropologists, this book challenges the faulty reasoning that has led to over-generous or specious conclusions about Neanderthals' language capabilities. A tour de force in logic, it should be mandatory reading for anyone who is interested in in such discussions.' Frederick L. Coolidge, University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsTable of ContentsPart I. Preliminaries: 1. Pursuing an intriguing but murky matter; 2. Telltale Neanderthal teeth; Part II. Symbolic behaviours: 3. Making and wearing personal ornaments; 4. Producing cave art; 5. Beautifying bodies; 6. Burying the dead; 7. Leaping to language; Part III. Non-symbolic behaviours: 8. Making stone tools; 9. Teaching stone-tool making; 10. Hunting big game; Part IV. Implications: 11. Dispersing the murk; Notes; References; Index.

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