The Last Human: A Guide to Twenty-Two Species of Extinct Humans

Book Description

This book tells the story of human evolution, the epic of Homo sapiens and its colorful precursors and relatives. The story begins in Africa, six to seven million years ago, and encompasses twenty known human species, of which Homo sapiens is the sole survivor. Illustrated with spectacular, three-dimensional scientific reconstructions portrayed in their natural habitat developed by a team of physical anthropologists at the American Museum of Natural History and in concert with experts from around the world, the book is both a guide to extinct human species and an astonishing hominid family photo album.
The Last Human presents a comprehensive account of each species with information on its emergence, chronology, geographic range, classification, physiology, lifestyle, habitat, environment, cultural achievements, co-existing species, and possible reasons for extinction. Also included are summaries of fossil discoveries, controversies, and publications. What emerges from the fossil story is a new understanding of Homo sapiens. No longer credible is the notion that our species is the end product of a single lineage, improved over generations by natural selection. Rather, the fossil record shows, we are a species with widely varied precursors, and our family tree is characterized by many branchings and repeated extinctions.
Exhibition information:
Photographs of most of the reconstructions that appear in this book will be featured in exhibits appearing in the new Hall of Human Origins at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The opening of the Hall is planned for November 2006.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant and beautiful.......2007-09-06

Brilliant and beautiful, this book may help those who still don't grasp human evolution.

The artwork is spectacular and succeeds at bringing long-extinct hominids back from the dead.

A catalogue of cousins.......2007-08-02

There's a great deal of information available to the interested seeker of human origins. What has been lacking is a good descriptive overview and logical arrangement of the fossils found. Sawyer and Deak have responded to that need with this volume. Arranged in order of the oldest to the youngest of fossil specimens, the authors summarise which parts have been uncovered. In addition, they further descriptions of the likelihood of bipedalism, the known locations with assumed roaming areas, the associated wildlife and climate information. A special feature presents the way the "man-ape" probably appeared in its natural habitat.

The oldest fossils are very fragmentary and lead more to suggestions as to how they fit in the human lineage. Some clearly were successful creatures in their own right, but likely lie in a line that died out in time. Those aged pieces need further finds to establish their place - the chief reason the authors describe the probable range they inhabited. Later, more complete, fossils offer more information. The authors begin depicting fossil pieces in a restored placement with Australopithicus afarensis, the now-famous "Lucy" revealed by Don Johanson and his team in 1973. The authors provide an almost startling image of this hominid searching the savannah for her "lost daughter" - a very human characteristic. Laetoli's preserved footprints are described with the implications for how close to modern humans A. afarensis could stride.

After "Lucy's" time, about 3.5 million years ago, hominids developed into many and varied types. Lucy's fossils were found in Ethiopia, but a million years later a new species, with robust jaws and bearing a crested cranium appeared. Paranthropus aethiopicus had nutcracker jaws and was more sturdily built than Lucy. Yet, in the same time frame, Lucy's likely direct successors also emerged. One of these may have been the first to apply tools to aid food processing. Far away in what is now South Africa, other branches of Lucy's clan may have evolved as a result of earlier forebears migrating. Within another half-million years, examples of hominids in the direct lineage to today's humans appear, only a short distance from the supposed range of Lucy's wanderings. Their descendents launched new migrations traced by finds to the east of their original homelands.

The recent find near Dmanisi in Georgia provides a look at hominid life nearly 2 million years ago. Flaked stone, likely used for meat cutting, although no bones with cut marks have yet been revealed. A contemporary of the Georgian hominid wandered yet further east, typified by the skull and thigh bone excavated by Eugene Dubois in 1891. Homo habilis has been found in other sites, demonstrating its wandering habits. The most astonishing find outside our African origins is the small hominid, H. floresienses, discovered in a cave in Indonesia.

Ultimately, of course, the sole survivor of hominid evolution, Homo sapiens, outlasted its many competitors. The last major contender alongside our species was Home neanderthalis, ranging from today's Middle East into Western Europe. The authors' coverage of this species is thorough, but not extravagant. Moving to our species, Sawyer and Deak provide a good overview of the factors used in classifying the fossils without greatly extending their coverage in comparison to the other topics. To conclude the book, they describe the techniques used in making the representative images of the various hominid species discussed in the text. The key point is how they developed the faces in the images. These stand in stark contrast to some of the historical illustrations of "early man" done earlier.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in our ancestral past. Written in a straightforward manner, the authors give the available data, describing various speculations with care. They avoid dwelling on the many controversial questions that have plagued palaeoanthropology, and have no particular positions of their own to forward or defend. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Beautiful Pictorial Guide To Human Evolution For Those Who Aren't Scientists.......2007-07-05

"The Last Human: A Guide to Twenty-Two Species of Extinct Humans" is a beautiful, illustrated guide to human evolution that's aimed for a scientifically literate general audience, without much of the terminology associated with paleoanthropology and other relevant aspects of physical anthropology. The principal authors, physical anthropologist Gary P. Sawyer and artist Viktor Deak, are the co-leaders of the Fossil Hominid Reconstruction and Research Team based at the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Anthropology, which has used the techniques of forensic anthropology to recreate these vivid illustrations of these extinct hominid species, often relying on the latest paleoanthropologic research (though, in a couple of instances, the authors observe that some artistic license was taken with the final appearance of several individuals). This book is essentially a visual companion to the dioramas and other related displays featured in the recently opened Spitzer Hall of Human Origins at the American Museum of Natural History, in which the reconstructions made by Sawyer and Deak have taken their rigntful prominent places as among the most intriguing in this elegant hall devoted to human evolution. If nothing else, both this book and this new permanent exhibition, demonstrate more convincingly than ever, that human evolution has been an increasingly "tangled web" of species diversity, of which Homo Sapiens - humanity - is the sole surviving species. In addition to Sawyer's and Deak's contributions, there is eloquent writing too from Richard Milner, an anthropologist and writer who is affiliated with both the museum's anthropology department and Natural History Magazine. The book's text does an admirable job covering not only the paleontology of each species (e. g. geological and paleobiogeographic range, palecological reconstruction), but also delves into the probable cultural attributes of each of the twenty-two hominid species. Without question, this book is artistically - and scientifically - the latest word on human evolution aimed for a general audience; I strongly commend Yale University Press for trying to keep its production costs to a minimum to ensure a potentially large audience for it.

The Ultimate Extended Family Photo Album.......2007-07-03

"The Last Human: A Guide to Twenty-Two Species of Extinct Humans" is a numinous, scientifically accurate, and artistically inspired depiction of human evolution - the ultimate extended family photo album and history - that follows the emergence of 22 human species from our primordial cradle in Africa six to seven million years ago to the dawn of Homo sapiens.

Unlike overly popularized accounts, "The Last Human" unflinchingly notes that Homo sapiens was not an inevitable outcome. Environment and contingency generated, and the fossil record documents, a hominid family tree sprouting many branches including forerunners, relatives, and extinctions. Photorealistic three-dimensional reconstructions portray hominids such as Australopithecus afarensis, Homo rhodesiensis, Homo erectus, and Homo neanderthalensis (among others) with startling and emotionally evocative intensity.

The accompanying text provides a comprehensive account of each species with information on its emergence, chronology, geographic range, classification, physiology, lifestyle, habitat, environment, cultural achievements, co-existing species, and possible reasons for extinction.

By masterfully merging scientific insight and artistic interpretation into a coherent and compelling whole "The Last Human" eloquently articulates how family history is everyone's heritage. This is a category-defining book that deserves to be widely read. It has my highest recommendation.

Also try Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors by Nicholas Wade, The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors by Ann Gibbons, From Lucy to Language: Revised, Updated, and Expanded by Donald Johansen, or the Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins by Carl Zimmer.

A Hominid Family Photo Album.......2007-06-12

This book is the work of the artists and scientists of the Fossil Hominid Reconstruction and Research Team. Sawyer is the physical anthropologist and Deak is the paleoartist. They take all that is known about each species within the genera Australopithicus, Ardipithicus, and Homo, and synthesize that data into stunning, beautiful, and somewhat disturbing likenesses of individuals. Whether in forecasting the future or in reconstructing the past, the further you get from the present day, the more uncertainty is introduced. The authors admit to a blending of science and art, and they admit that the more flimsy the fossil record, the greater their artistic license. It is said that all of the known fossils of proto-humans would fit in the bed of a pickup truck, and it is with this implicit caveat in mind that you must evaluate the accuracy of the reconstructions. Also, only bone fossilizes, and this is a book about soft tissue, so there is considerable inductive logic implicit in the reconstructions. But, hey, it's a good start, and it's more than we had before Sawyer and Deak had their inspiration. My guess is that any future corrections to their work will likely appear immaterial to the scientifically literate general reader which is their target audience.

All of the paleoanthropological discoveries in the text of this elegant photo album of proto-humans have been published before, and the authors do not claim offer new theories or interpretations of hominid evolution. The reason you will want to read this book is to meet your family in the flesh, to see what your ancestors looked like. Take each reconstruction as a hypothesis; this is what they most likely looked like, based on our current interpretation of the fossil record.

This book's stunning illustrations will be certain to attract a fresh audience of paleoanthropological novices, and they will find, after their initial shock, that the authors present a rather comprehensive introductory course in the topic. It is a welcome addition to a bibliography of recent books aimed at the general reader, including "The Dawn of Human Culture", by Richard Klein, "From Lucy to Language," by Donald Johansen, "Extinct Humans," by Ian Tattersall and Jeffrey Schwartz, and "Becoming Human," by Ian Tattersal (see my Amazon reviews). This book doesn't require a vocabulary in craniodental morphology, and for the most part scientific terms are avoided. For instance, Sawyer uses the term "man-ape" instead of the term "hominid."

What emerges from these pages is the slow, but accelerating evolution of proto-humans, by a process of brutal natural selection, including many failed "branches" in the evolutionary tree, all but one ultimately leading to extinction, leaving only ourselves.

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A comprehensive and merticulous work
The number 1 reference!
Pretentious Wolpoff strikes again!
Praise for Paleoanthropology
Great for those well-versed in paleoanthropology

Paleoanthropology
Milford H. Wolpoff
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Langua
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Human Origins : The Fossil Record

ASIN: 0070716765

Book Description

Since the first edition was introduced in 1980, Paleoanthropology has been the leading text for the upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in human evolution. Written by one of the world's leading experts on the subject, and the only human evolution text written by a paleontologist with direct experience with the fossil record, this new edition offers comprehensive coverage of all aspects of human evolution. This edition has been substantially revised and rewritten. It has been expanded to include the most recent research, theories, and new developments in the field, making it the most up-to-date and complete text on the human fossil record available.

Customer Reviews:

A comprehensive and merticulous work.......2002-06-17

Covering the subject of Paleoanthropology is never easy, at best. This is especially so when one has a competitor of the quality of Richard Klein's "The Human Career". However, Professor Wolpoff has brilliantly succeeded at carving his own niche, with Klein's book focusing more on archaeology and his more on skeletal analyses. I would recommend students purchase both textbooks to obtain the best overall picture. Paleoanthropology is separated into four parts, with a total of 14 chapters ranging from descriptions of the process of evolution, to the distinguishing anatomical features of the Anthropoidea and the hominins, and to the late Pleistocene. A comprehensive glossary is given at the end of the book which proves invaluable. A general collection of references is found at the end of the book and more specific references can be found after each chapter. It is not a book for newcomers who should introduce themselves to the subject through a more general summary; rather it is for the dedicated amateur and scholars to utilise at graduate level and as a professional reference work. I am an archaeologist and would recommend it for anyone who is seriously interested in paleoanthropology and archaeology.

The number 1 reference!.......2002-06-11

This book is not meant to be "eye candy" (although in many ways it is). It is a serious reference book with no hooks. Just the facts ...and tons OF 'em. If it is boring to any student, it is because he/she has no love of the subject or has a personal grudge of some sort. I am especially grateful for all the detailed descriptions of fossils (especially pertaining to the skull). Professor Wolpoff is a no-nonsense scientist who knows and loves his subject thoroughly! It is sad that politics have so thoroughly invaded the field of paleoanthropology. It's immature effects are plain to see in this series of reviews. Prof. Wolpoff is THE leader of one side of an important issue and critiscism is inevitable. It is also regrettable but I add this voice to thank him for his good and dedicated work.

Pretentious Wolpoff strikes again!.......2000-06-07

Wolpoff's book is literally unreadable and pretentious beyond words. I took a course from Wolpoff in the past, and as with his teaching, the book is often unclear, even at defining important vocabulary terms. Even as simply a reference this mammoth book fails miserably.

Praise for Paleoanthropology.......2000-05-31

"Paleoanthropology" is, and deserves to be, the standard against which all paleoanthropology texts should be measured. After introductory chapters on dating methods and evolutionary theory, it covers human evolution beginning with Miocene primates, proceeding through australopithecine and Pleistocene Homo evolution, and ending with a thorough analysis of the European fossil record. "Paleoanthropology" has three major strengths. The first lies in its detailed treatment of the fossil evidence over the last 5 million years. Every major specimen is described clearly, precisely and thoroughly. More importantly, each specimen is placed within the context of its evolutionary significance. Its second strength lies in its treatment of the entire organism. Archaeology and behavioral theory are combined with morphological evidence to arrive at a detailed appraisal of what the hominid was doing and why it was doing it. Rarely do textbooks adequately address such issues. Third, "Paleoanthropology" addresses every important theoretical issue in paleoanthropology. Certainly Wolpoff emphasizes his views, but, in each case, he presents the various protagonists' views of how the evidence supports their opposing positions. For example, the predictions of the Recent Replacement model, and the supporting fossil and archaeological evidence, are clearly presented. Wolpoff takes a position on this and other issues. All authors do so and are seldom criticized for it. However few authors go to the lengths that Wolpoff does to present all important alternative points of view. Anyone interested in detailed descriptions of the fossil material and thorough discussions of central theoretical issues is strongly encouraged to read this text.

Great for those well-versed in paleoanthropology.......2000-05-29

The 4 star-rating I give this book is an answer to the question, "Did the author accomplish what he set out to accomplish (as laid out in the Introduction)?" I suspect that the author under-estimated the amount of information a reader needs to be equipped with already, in order to understand what the book has to offer; or, perhaps, over-estimated the intelligence of the reader. As the author warns, the book is not an introductory book, and indeed quite challenging for those going in with 2-3 courses in biological anthropology. As any book would be, with 878 pages, single-spaced, two-column, 10-font Times New Roman, all black-and-white. On the other hand, the book shines for those who have a good idea about what it is among the numerous topics in human evolution that the reader wants to know. This is the book I frequently look up when developing a project, be it an analytical, historical, or literature review, or for a quick check on data. One finds morphological descriptions of all relevant fossils, with their historical background, dates, and their places in paleoanthropology literature. More references are in the back of the book, as a good starting point. Drawings of fossils are effective enough for those familiar with human osteology and the fossil record to have a mental image. Numerous tables (116 in number) and figures (392 in number) provide drawings, numbers, lists, and comparisons within and between fossil samples across vast range of time and space. The author states that it is the specific perspective of the author that is presented in the textbook, and to his credit, the interpretations are unmistakably so. The book is heavy to carry around and does not look simple, sophisticated or elegant. But I appreciate this book that presents human evolution as much more than the simplistic and almost flippant package of ponderings often witnessed in the literature.

The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors

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Ann Gibbons, the First Human
Inspired Narrative
A Human who can write!
Fascinating read!
Makes You Want to Watch for Anything Else She Writes

The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors
Ann Gibbons
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors
Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins
The Complete World of Human Evolution
The Last Human: A Guide to Twenty-Two Species of Extinct Humans
From Lucy to Language: Revised, Updated, and Expanded

ASIN: 0385512260
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Book Description

This dynamic chronicle of the race to find the “missing links” between humans and apes transports readers into the highly competitive world of fossil hunting and into the lives of the ambitious scientists intent on pinpointing the dawn of humankind.

The quest to find where and when the earliest human ancestors first appeared is one of the most exciting and challenging of all scientific pursuits. The First Human is the story of four international teams obsessed with solving the mystery of human evolution and of the intense rivalries that propel them.

An award-winning science writer, Ann Gibbons introduces the various maverick fossil hunters and describes their most significant discoveries in Africa. There is Tim White, the irreverent and brilliant Californian whose team discovered the partial skeleton of a primate that lived more than 4.4 million years ago in Ethiopia. If White can prove that it was hominid—an ancestor of humans and not of chimpanzees or other great apes—he can lay claim to discovering the oldest known member of the human family. As White painstakingly prepares the bones, the French paleontologist Michel Brunet comes forth with another, even more startling find. Well known for his work in the most remote and hostile locations, Brunet and his team uncover a stunning skull in Chad that could set the date of the beginnings of humankind to almost seven million years ago. Two other groups—one led by the zoologist Meave Leakey, the other by the British geologist Martin Pickford and his partner, Brigitte Senut, a French paleontologist—enter the race with landmark discoveries of other fossils vying for the status of the first human ancestor.

Through scrupulous research and vivid first-person reporting, The First Human takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the intense challenges of fossil hunting on a grand competitive scale.

Customer Reviews:

Ann Gibbons, the First Human.......2007-09-28

Very informative summary of more recent discoveries and their significance w.r.t. older finds. The competition among field workers is not surprising although at times the story becomes a bit "gossipy"

Inspired Narrative .......2007-07-21

`The First Human' was a surprisingly literary and detailed read about the fossil hunters and their discoveries over the past half-century. While it is primarily historical, the science behind the discoveries is explained quite satisfyingly and succinctly. A great deal of time is spent explaining the politics involved and the professional disputes among the leading figures in the field. But in so doing, the scientific discussions interwoven throughout are all the more memorable.

Gibbons does a good job explaining the limitations of what is known ...and just how scientists can sometimes draw larger conclusions from an isolated fossilized bone. Also interesting is the realization that of all the ancestral hominid remains found in Africa, apart from a few isolated fossilized teeth, there have been no ancestral gorilla or chimpanzee remains found to which they can be compared.

On a lighter note, Gibbons applauds the French for their interest in this subject... and impugns the average American for their ignorance. But after reading 'The First Human' one is left with the impression that science can really do little more than guess about such matters anyway. The hominid fossil evidence is so scarce. Much of the science , in the end, is wishful thinking. And the fact that 45% of Americans think man appeared intact roughly 10,000 years ago...to that I say... their guess is as good as any.

A Human who can write!.......2007-07-03

The First Human by Ann Gibbons is a good book for any armchair paleoanthropologist. She reviews concisely the history of the search for human origins and reveals in great detail the recent discoveries made over the last few decades.
The book is well written and analytical with in depth reporting from actual interviews with the principals who have made the most recent finds.
I highly recommend this book.

Fascinating read!.......2006-12-06

As a student of paleoanthropology, I was slightly wary of reading another popular account of fossil hunting in Africa. After finishing "The First Human," however, I can say with certainty that not only did Ann Gibbons do her homework, but that she was able to deftly weave together both the science and the politics in one of the most fascinating narratives I've read in some time. One really begins to understand both the hardship of paleoanthropological fieldwork and the thrill of discovery. But that of course is only the beginning. Her descriptions of the ensuing scientific cross-fire, often tainted by personal and political conflict, is clear and engaging. All in all, a well-written and up-to-date chronicle of the science of human origins.

Makes You Want to Watch for Anything Else She Writes.......2006-11-05

As best I can tell this is Ann Gibbons first book. And it makes you want to keep an eye out for anything else she publishes.

Nominally this book is a report on the search for our first ancestors. But in reality it is a book on the people doing the searching. Big time science, be it physics or medicine or, as in this case, paleontologists the struggle is only partially one of finding the answer to the problem. The real problems are in getting funded, then when you discover something, going to war against your fellow scientists whole will be attacking your results because if you get more funding, more support, more prizes they will suffer, or at least they think they will.

Ms Gibbons primarily follows four teams who are looking for evidence about our earliest ancestors. Our ancestors didn't conveniently die in nice places that you'd want to visit. Having to go where the fossils are. And in the case of human ancestors, that means Africa. And not the nicest places in Africa but dry hot deserts in Ethiopia, Chad and places like that.

While I suspect that the discoveries described in this book will be replaced by the next finding somewhere else, the interplay of the people will remain constant.

Next, Ms. Gibbons, how about looning into astronomy/cosmology.

Neanderthals Revisited: New Approaches and Perspectives (Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology)

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Neanderthals Revisited: New Approaches and Perspectives (Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402051204

Book Description

Recent years have witnessed exciting and important scientific breakthroughs in the study of Neanderthals and their place in human evolution which have transformed our appreciation of this group’s paleobiology and evolution. This volume presents cutting-edge research by leading scientists re-examining the major debates in Neanderthal research with the use of innovative state-of-the art methods and exciting new theoretical approaches.

Topics addressed include the re-evaluation of Neanderthal anatomy, inferred adaptations and habitual activities, developmental patterns, phylogenetic relationships, and the Neanderthal extinction; new methods include computer tomography, 3D geometric morphometrics, ancient DNA and bioenergetics. The diverse contributions offer fresh insights and advances in Neanderthal and modern human origins research.

This is a Volume in The Max-Planck-Institute Subseries in Human Evolution coordinated by Jean-Jacques Hublin, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany

Bones, Stones and Molecules: "Out of Africa" and Human Origins

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Multiregionalism Debunked
Valuable reference for academics and laymen alike
Great read, showcasing the latest fossils!

Bones, Stones and Molecules: "Out of Africa" and Human Origins
David W. Cameron , and Colin P. Groves
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0121569330

Book Description

Bones, Stones and Molecules provides some of the best evidence for resolving the debate between the two hypotheses of human origins. The debate between the 'Out of Africa' model and the 'Multiregional' hypothesis is examined through the functional and developmental processes associated with the evolution of the human skull and face and focuses on the significance of the Australian record. The book analyzes important new discoveries that have occurred recently and examines evidence that is not available elsewhere. Cameron and Groves argue that the existing evidence supports a recent origin for modern humans from Africa. They also specifically relate these two theories to interpretations of the origins of the first Australians. The book provides an up-to-date interpretation of the fossil, archaeological and the molecular evidence, specifically as it relates to Asia, and Australia in particular.

* Readily accessible to the layperson and professional
* Provides concise coverage of current scientific evidence
* Presents a robust computer-generated model of human speciation over the last 7 million years
* Well illustrated with figures and photographs of important fossil specimens
* Presents a synthesis of great ape and human evolution

Customer Reviews:

Multiregionalism Debunked.......2006-08-19

Alternating between hard-core and literary, "Bones, Stones and Molecules" covers all of the latest anthropological discoveries and developments. Sahelanthropus and Orrorin are breaking news in paleoanthropology and are covered early in the book. These two new fossils are from the "wrong" side of the Great Rift Valley and neatly dispense with another recent favorite theory of human origins that involved the stranding of Old World and New World monkeys on either side of the Great Rift.

"Out of Africa" versus the "Multiregional" hypothesis are the book's main focus, and "Out of Africa" comes out the clear winner. David Cameron and Colin Groves each have their own slant on human origins, and these are clearly depicted in dozens of cladograms, each co-author posing variations. There are numerous sketches and photographs, and brief boxed interludes that also display a sense of humor.

"Bones, Stones and Molecules" introduces Groves' strong background in Australian fossils, the controversy over the timeline of Australian colonization has ramifications that affect much of anthropology. This is a solid book best suited to those with previous knowledge of the field. The appendix provides mathematical proof of assertions made in the book, hundreds of anatomical measurements are detailed. There are very few works that achieve such an excellent balance between mathematical rigor and literary readability.

Valuable reference for academics and laymen alike.......2004-09-05

Cameron and Groves have produced a handsome volume that details the anatomical structure of the species immediately ancestral to homo sapiens, and fleshes out the multiple "Out of Africa" episodes that have characterised the longer span of human evolution.

Full of ecological and detailed anatomical descriptions of the key species in human evolution, this volume very rarely, if not uniquely, integrates the story of hominid anatomical adaptation and modification across the Miocene through to the Holocene.

Students of paleoanthropology will not find a more thorough one volume overview, which while going far beyond being an introduction, admirably serves that role to.

For those who want to come to grips with, at a very detailed level, the drivers and form of anatomical and associated behavioural change amongst the human ancestral species, this Cameron/Groves volume is the ideal reference.

Great read, showcasing the latest fossils!.......2004-07-29

This is a great read for anyone interested in human evolution. It includes all of the most recent fossil hominid discoveries as well as providing an up-to-date overview and systematic analysis of human evolution over the last 6 million years or so (including molecular - archaeological information). It provides a convincing argument for the 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis for modern human origins. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in evolution and human and great ape evolution in particular.

Paleodemography: Age Distributions from Skeletal Samples (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology)

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Paleodemography: Age Distributions from Skeletal Samples (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Demography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0521800633

Book Description

In this book, physical anthropologists, mathematical demographers, and statisticians tackle methodological issues for reconstructing demographic structure for skeletal samples. Topics discussed include how skeletal morphology is linked to chronological age, assessment of age from the skeleton, demographic models of mortality and their interpretation, and biostatistical approaches to age structure estimation from archaeological samples. This work will be of immense importance to anyone interested in paleodemography, including biological and physical anthropologists, demographers, geographers, evolutionary biologists, and statisticians.

Download Description

Paleodemography is the field of enquiry that attempts to identify demographic parameters from past populations (usually skeletal samples) derived from archaeological contexts, and then to make interpretations regarding the health and well-being of those populations. However, paleodemographic theory relies on several assumptions that cannot easily be validated by the researcher, and if incorrect, can lead to large errors or biases. In this book, physical anthropologists, mathematical demographers and statisticians tackle these methodological issues for reconstructing demographic structure for skeletal samples. Topics discussed include how skeletal morphology is linked to chronological age, assessment of age from the skeleton, demographic models of mortality and their interpretation, and biostatistical approaches to age structure estimation from archaeological samples. This work will be of immense importance to anyone interested in paleodemography, including biological and physical anthropologists, demographers, geographers, evolutionary biologists and statisticians.

After Eden: The Evolution of Human Domination

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Man against nature
A Step Toward Understanding

After Eden: The Evolution of Human Domination
Kirkpatrick Sale , and Kirkpatrick Sale
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Leopard's Tale: Revealing the Mysteries of Catalhoyuk
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God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution

ASIN: 0822339382

Book Description

When did the human species turn against the planet that we depend on for survival? Human industry and consumption of resources have altered the climate, polluted the water and soil, destroyed ecosystems, and rendered many species extinct, vastly increasing the likelihood of an ecological catastrophe. How did humankind come to rule nature to such an extent? To regard the planet’s resources and creatures as ours for the taking? To find ourselves on a seemingly relentless path toward ecocide?

In After Eden, Kirkpatrick Sale answers these questions in a radically new way. Integrating research in paleontology, archaeology, and anthropology, he points to the beginning of big-game hunting as the origin of Homo sapiens’ estrangement from the natural world. Sale contends that a new, recognizably modern human culture based on the hunting of large animals developed in Africa some 70,000 years ago in response to a fierce plunge in worldwide temperature triggered by an enormous volcanic explosion in Asia. Tracing the migration of populations and the development of hunting thousands of years forward in time, he shows that hunting became increasingly adversarial in relation to the environment as people fought over scarce prey during Europe’s glacial period between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago. By the end of that era, humans’ idea that they were the superior species on the planet, free to exploit other species toward their own ends, was well established.

After Eden is a sobering tale, but not one without hope. Sale asserts that Homo erectus, the variation of the hominid species that preceded Homo sapiens and survived for nearly two million years, did not attempt to dominate the environment. He contends that vestiges of this more ecologically sound way of life exist todayâin some tribal societies, in the central teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism, and in the core principles of the worldwide environmental movementâoffering redemptive possibilities for ourselves and for the planet.

Customer Reviews:

Man against nature.......2007-02-18

I found this a refreshing take on the stale question of Darwinian evolution, but must hasten to add that I don't really agree with the author's conclusion on the dynamics of descent, whatever the case with his environmental critiques, which give a useful new perspective on ecology. The book is nonetheless definitely worth reading, despite what seems to me its speculative claims and somewhat preposterious plug for Homo Erectus. The implicit Darwinian assumptions of the account, however, vitiate the conclusions. Maybe Darwinian selectionism appeals so much because it strengthens the very mindset of 'Sapiens' the author deplores and that is so destructive of the environment.
This Darwinian view is producing retarded scientific beliefs systems on evolution making any paradigm renewal almost impossible. And yet the account of Darwin of human evolution by natural selection is almost certainly wrong, or incomplete, as Alfred Wallace suddenly realized, in his retreat on the descent of man.
It is important to remember how little we really know about human evolution, far to little to really conclude anything about evolutionary dynamics. Meanwhile the evidence, such as it is, for a 'Great Explosion' suggests we are missing something important.
For a falsification of the Darwinian account, cf. the reviewer's _World History and The Eonic Effect_. This book makes clear that high-speed evolution occurs so fast that we need a data record at the level of centuries to see the dynamics.

A Step Toward Understanding.......2007-02-10

This book answers many questions about how we humans have gotten to the point we are today. Tracking our pre-history, as this book so capably does, gives us unsettling insights into why we behave as we do toward nature, ourselves, and this magical planet that we inhabit. The first step to correcting any problem is to acknowledge that it exists. This book can be a crucial first step in that process of correction. I highly recommend this important and entertaining book.

Debating HumanKind's Place in Nature; 1860-2000: The Nature of Paleoanthropology (Advances in Human Evolution)

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Debating HumanKind's Place in Nature; 1860-2000: The Nature of Paleoanthropology (Advances in Human Evolution)
Richard G. Delisle
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Thinking from Things: Essays in the Philosophy of Archaeology
An Introduction to Human Evolutionary Anatomy

ASIN: 0131773909

Book Description

Showing that paleoanthropology is a progressive and dynamic field, this book argues that all debates and hypotheses spring from a single general theory: the theory of biological evolution. It presents the debates and research from 150 scholars in the field, and separates the resolution of these debates through three different time periods: 1860-1890, 1890-1935, and post-1935. Topics include: the history of the field; comparative anatomy; the human fossil record; primate phylogeny; human phylogeny; and the nature of paleoanthropology. A book that will appeal to anyone interested in anthropology, it will also interest historians and others in the social sciences.

The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution

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Detailed, complex but ultimately rewarding
Tattersall provides access to a complex field
Fascinating!!
Fossilized Writing
Great historical review

The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution
Ian Tattersall
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Becoming Human: Evolution and Human Uniqueness
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The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution (Cambridge Reference Book)
From Lucy to Language
Origins Reconsidered: In Search of What Makes Us Human

ASIN: 0195061012

Book Description

One of the most remarkable fossil finds in history occurred in Laetoli, Tanzania, in 1974, when anthropologist Andrew Hill (diving to the ground to avoid a lump of elephant dung thrown by a colleague) came face to face with a set of ancient footprints captured in stone--the earliest recorded steps of our far-off human ancestors, some three million years old. Today we can see a recreation of the making of the Laetoli footprints at the American Museum of Natural History, in a stunning diorama which depicts two of our human forebears walking side by side through a snowy landscape of volcanic ash. But how do we know what these three-million-year-old relatives looked like? How have we reconstructed the eons-long journey from our first ancient steps to where we stand today? In short, how do we know what we think we know about human evolution? In The Fossil Trail, Ian Tattersall, the head of the Anthropology Department at the American Museum of Natural History, takes us on a sweeping tour of the study of human evolution, offering a colorful history of fossil discoveries and a revealing insider's look at how these finds have been interpreted--and misinterpreted--through time. All the major figures and discoveries are here. We meet Lamarck and Cuvier and Darwin (we learn that Darwin's theory of evolution, though a bombshell, was very congenial to a Victorian ethos of progress), right up to modern theorists such as Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould. Tattersall describes Dubois's work in Java, the many discoveries in South Africa by pioneers such as Raymond Dart and Robert Broom, Louis and Mary Leakey's work at Olduvai Gorge, Don Johanson's famous discovery of "Lucy" (a 3.4 million-year-old female hominid, some 40% complete), and the more recent discovery of the "Turkana Boy," even more complete than "Lucy," and remarkably similar to modern human skeletons. He discusses the many techniques available to analyze finds, from fluorine analysis (developed in the 1950s, it exposed Piltdown as a hoax) and radiocarbon dating to such modern techniques as electron spin resonance and the analysis of human mitochondrial DNA. He gives us a succinct picture of what we presently think our "family tree" looks like, with at least three genera and perhaps a dozen species through time (though he warns that this greatly underestimates the actual diversity of hominids over the past two million or so years). And he paints a vivid, insider's portrait of paleoanthropology, the dogged work in the broiling sun, searching for a tooth, or a fractured corner of bone, amid stone litter and shadows, with no guarantee of ever finding anything. And perhaps most important, Tattersall looks at all these great researchers and discoveries within the context of their social and scientific milleu, to reveal the insidious ways that the received wisdom can shape how we interpret fossil findings, that what we expect to find colors our understanding of what we do find. Refreshingly opinionated and vividly narrated, The Fossil Trail is the only book available to general readers that offers a full history of our study of human evolution. A fascinating story with intriguing turns along the way, this well-illustrated volume is essential reading for anyone curious about our human origins.

Customer Reviews:

Detailed, complex but ultimately rewarding.......2004-09-18

Ian Tattersall's _The Fossil Trail_ traces the evolution of scientific undestanding of human origins in exquisite detail and in a language that is understandable to the lay reader. The book is rich with scale diagrams of the fossil record of early hominids, presenting the various theories of human evolution from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.

Because of the subject matter and the aim of the book, it is dense reading, and it clearly is not for everyone. Nonetheless it is a fascinating and rewarding book.

Tattersall provides access to a complex field.......2004-08-28

Ian Tattersall does wonders for paleontology and anthropology. Here he literally explains "how we know what we think we know about human evolution."

Tattersall illuminates just how fasions and concepts are constantly shifting as new fossils are found. His description of how and where fossils are found is fascinating. We don't know nearly as much about human evolution as most might think. And what we think of evolution is subject to constant change - and not at all firm.

Overall, Tattersall provides an easily accessible path to a complex subject. Anyone with an interest in how humankind may have evolved will find this interesting reading.

Jerry

Fascinating!!.......2003-05-20

Informative, interesting, and contrary to what Anthony, ... said, a very enjoyable read. This book was recommended to me by one of my professors and was far beyond simply worthwhile; it was scientifically accurate and absolutely fascinating. Ian Tattersall's unique writing style is what makes it that way!!

Fossilized Writing.......2002-11-24

How do you read a book for pleasure when the author is constantly stopping you from advancing by using one word parenthetical expressions? The answer is that you can't. This tome by Tattersall is in dire need of a good editing. It should be a warning for all those who would read scientific books; when the credits do not contain an "edited by" recognition, be wary.
Don't get me wrong, Tattersall tackles an incredibly difficult topic and does a great job with the chronology and with the scientific facts. The problem is that his prose and grammar are so dreadful that the book is painfully difficult to read. Tattersall is constantly badgering the reader with silly, needless one word parenthetic expressions.
Moreover, then, of course, indeed, you could choose to ignore these, well, annoying little pauses. And, therefore, you might, remakably, gain some knowledge and, well, insight into a, mostly, difficult subject. But, the fact that the book is so, well, scientifically informative, well, mostly.
ENOUGH ALREADY!! Buy a red pencil and use it. A copy editor at a weekly local newspaper could have edited this book on short notice and made it a five star candidate in about two hours. Why no editor? I have no idea. I am surprised that Oxford Press would print a book with such glaring grammatical nonsense. The problem is that scientists think that their peers will forgive their literary gobbledygook if the topic has innate merit and the scientist has authority in the subject.
My recommendation is to pass on this book. There are many other books that will give you the same information less painfully.

Great historical review.......2001-10-11

This book really went into the thinking behind paleoanthropology since its beginnings. It looks at the scientific mindset of the scientist at the time and why some of their views were developed. Not a great book for the current state of paleoanthropology although it eventually gets there in a round about way since it presents an historical account of the science.

Preliminary publication of paleoanthropology

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Preliminary publication of paleoanthropology
Milford H Wolpoff
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Prehistory | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 007071679X

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