Edited By: S Jones, R Martin and D Pilbeam
510 pages, 450 photos, diagrams, maps
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Contents
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About this book
Over 70 scholars have contributed to this Encyclopaedia. The human species is placed in an evolutionary perspective, and a wide range of topics are covered - from genetics, primatology, and fossil origins to human biology and ecology, brain function and behaviour, and demography and disease. Attention is also paid to the evolution and ecology of the living primates, our closest evolutionary relatives. It also deals with the evolution and ecology of human society and considers the biology of uniquely human abilities such as language and upright walking.
Contents
1. Introduction: what makes us human?; 2. Patterns of primate evolution; 3. The life of primates; 4. The brain and language; 5. Primate social organisation; 6. Human evolution in geological context; 7. The primate fossil record; 8. Primate genetics and evolution; 9. Genetic clues of relatedness; 10. Early human behaviour and ecology; 11. Human populations, past and present; 12. Conclusion: the evolutionary future of humankind.
Customer Reviews
Edited By: S Jones, R Martin and D Pilbeam
510 pages, 450 photos, diagrams, maps
'! truly useful to a wide range of readers within anthropology, including graduate and undergraduate students as well as professors ! There is no better source for finding brief, accurate, and current synopses of the issues, problems and methods of analysis within the domain of human evolutionary studies.' American Journal of Physical Anthropology ' ! one of the best reference books of all time.' The Good Book Guide 'What an encyclopedia this is! You can read it confident you are getting the authoritative, well-informed and up-to-date view of qualified experts.' Richard Dawkins ' ! a feast of information for anyone interested in the history of our species ! If (whether student or professional) you're interested in human evolution, you'll want to have this volume handy.' Ian Tattersall, Nature