Description
Book SynopsisSponsored by the Royal Anthropological Institute, in conjunction with the British Academy, Early Human Kinship brings together original studies from leading figures in the biological sciences, social anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics to provide a major breakthrough in the debate over human evolution and the nature of society.
Table of ContentsList of Tables.
List of Figures.
List of Illustrations.
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
Notes on Contributors.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.
Why 'Kinship'? New Questions on an Old Topic (Wendy James).
A Brief Overview of Human Evolution (John A. J. Gowlett and Robin Dunbar).
PART I Where and When: The Archaeological Evidence for Early Social Life in Africa.
1 Kinship and Material Culture: Archaeological Implications of the Human Global Diaspora (Clive Gamble).
2 Deep Roots of Kin: Developing the Evolutionary Perspective from Prehistory (John A. J. Gowlett).
PART II Women, Children, Men – and the Puzzles of Comparative Social Structure.
3 Early Human Kinship Was Matrilineal (Chris Knight).
4 Alternating Birth Classes: A Note from Eastern Africa (Wendy James).
5 Tetradic Theory and the Origin of Human Kinship Systems (Nicholas J. Allen).
6 What Can Ethnography Tell Us about Human Social Evolution? (Robert Layton).
PART III Other Primates and the Biological Approach.
7 Kinship in Biological Perspective (Robin Dunbar).
8 The Importance of Kinship in Monkey Society (Amanda H. Korstjens).
9 Meaning and Relevance of Kinship in Great Apes (Julia Lehmann).
10 Grandmothering and Female Coalitions: A Basis for Matrilineal Priority? (Kit Opie and Camilla Power).
PART IV Reconstructions: Evidence from Cultural Practice and Language.
11 A Phylogenetic Approach to the History of Cultural Practices (Laura Fortunato).
12 Reconstructing Ancient Kinship in Africa (Christopher Ehret).
13 The Co-evolution of Language and Kinship (Alan Barnard).
EPILOGUE.
Reaching across the Gaps (Hilary Callan).
Appendices to Chapter 12.
Bibliography.
Index.
