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A Companion to Paleoanthropology presents a compendium of readings from leading scholars in the field that define our current knowledge of the major discoveries and developments in human origins and human evolution, tracing the fossil record from primate and hominid origins to the dispersal of modern humans across the globe.
- Represents an accessible state-of-the-art summary of the entire field of paleoanthropology, with an overview of hominid taxonomy
- Features articles on the key discoveries in ape and human evolution, in cranial, postcranial and brain evolution, growth and development
- Surveys the breadth of the paleontological record from primate origins to modern humans
- Highlights the unique methods and techniques of paleoanthropology, including dating and ecological methods, and use of living primate date to reconstruct behavior in fossil apes and humans
Contents
1. Introduction David R. Begun
2. History Matthew R. Goodrum
Part I. Background to Paleoanthropology
Section 1. Method and theory
3. Human Systematics David S. Strait
4. Experimental Approaches to Musculoskeletal Function Matthew J. Ravosa, Kimberly A. Congdon and Rachel A. Menegaz
5. Multivariate Quantitative Methods in Paleoanthropology Michael A. Schillaci and Philipp Gunz
6. Growth, Development and Life History in Hominin Evolution Jay Kelley and Debra Bolter
Section 2. Anatomical regions
7. Cranial Evolution in the Apes Brian T. Shea
8. Hominid Brain Evolution Thomas Schoenemann
9. Hominin diets Peter S. Ungar and Matt Sponheimer
10. Origin and Evolution of Human Postcranial Anatomy Brian G. Richmond and Kevin G. Hatala
Section 3. Environment and behavior
11. Multiproxy Paleoecology. Reconstructing evolutionary context in paleoanthropology Kaye E. Reed
12. Reconstructing Social Behavior from Fossil Evidence J. Michael Plavcan
13. Geochronology Alan L. Deino
14. The Origins and Evolution of Technology Kathy Schick and Nicholas Toth
Section 4. Genetics and race
15. Genetic perspectives on ape and human evolution Todd R. Disotell
16. The Genetics of Morphology Richard J. Sherwood and Dana L. Duren
17. Paleoanthropology and Race Milford H. Wolpoff and Rachel Caspari
Part II. The fossil record
Section 5. Paleogene primates
18. Primate Origins Mary T. Silcox
19. Anthropoid Origins K. Christopher Beard
20. Catarrhine origins Terry Harrison
Section 6. Neogene/Quaternary hominoids
21. The Miocene Hominoid Radiations David R. Begun
22. Before Australopithecus. The Earliest Hominins Scott W. Simpson
23. Australopithecus and Kenyanthropus Carol V. Ward and Ashley S. Hammond
24. Paranthropus Bernard Wood and Kes Schroer
Section 7. The age of Homo
25. Earliest Homo Friedemann Schrenk
26. Homo erectus and related taxa Susan C. Anton
27. The Middle Pleistocene Record. On the Ancestry of Neandertals, Modern Humans and Others Jean-Jacques Hublin
28. Neanderthals Katerina Harvati
29. Modern human origins Mark Collard and Mana Dembo
30. Homo floresiensis William L. Jungers
"A Companion to Paleoanthropology provides a good solution, although the price may be prohibitive for use as a textbook."
- American Journal of Human Biology, 1 January 2014
"As the fossil record and paleoanthropology as a whole have become increasingly complex, this volume will serve as a good introduction to the field that will provide structure and context for undergraduates and above. The chapters also provide sufficient depth to be useful to graduate students and faculty as a reference text. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty."
- Choice, 1 August 2013
"This collection of concise reviews of current research by an All-Star team of authors will be a valuable resource for students of paleoanthropology at all levels."
- John G. Fleagle, Stony Brook University
"A Companion to Paleoanthropology brings new ideas to light on human evolution, brilliantly coordinated by David Begun. It provides an unparalleled account of all that is new in palaeoanthropology, and it is essential reading for students, teachers and researchers alike."
- Peter Andrews, Natural History Museum, London
"This is a wonderful addition to the Companions series: focused but extensive and inclusive, with authoritative chapters by experts combining just the right amount of history and cutting-edge results. Suitable for advanced undergrad and grad-level course readings."
- Eric Delson, City University of New York
