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Paleoanthropology is perhaps the most multidisciplinary of all the sciences. Any complete account of the evolution and cultural and biological context of Homo sapiens must combine information from geology, paleoecology, primatology, evolutionary biology and a host of other fields. Above all, historical information needs to be combined with, and interpreted in the light of, what we know of the living world. Paleoanthropology is also an actively developing field in which much remains to be settled. The three volumes of this handbook bring together contributions by the world´s leading specialists that reflect the broad spectrum of modern paleoanthropology, thus presenting an indispensable resource for both professionals and students alike.

Volume 1 deals with principles, methods, and approaches. In recent years, enormous advances have been made in such areas as phylogenetic analysis, paleoecology and evolutionary theory and philosophy. The contributions in this first volume present the state of the art in these fields, provide succinct introductions to them and reflect the many ways in which they interact.

As human beings are primates, Volume 2 is devoted to primate origins, evolution, behaviour, and adaptive variety. Its emphasis is on integration of fossil data with the vast amount that is now known of the behaviour and ecology of living primates in natural environments.

Volume 3 deals with the fossil and molecular evidence for the evolution of Homo sapiens and its fossil relatives (the family Hominidae or subfamily Homininae, according to taste, a matter that we have left to the individual contributors).

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This volume addresses the origin of the human genus Homo, a major transition in human evolution and associated with major changes in brain size, locomotion, and culture, but one with many unanswered questions. How many different species of Homo were there, and how were they interrelated? Are stone tools a characteristic of early Homo? What was their function? How does the use of stone tools relate to changes in the dentition and brain size? Did adaptations for long distance running first appear with the origin of this genus? How does this relate to its diet and cultural abilities.

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The volume contains summaries of facts, theories, and unsolved problems pertaining to the unexplained extinction of dozens of genera of mostly large terrestrial mammals, which occurred ca. 13,000 calendar years ago in North America and about 1,000 years later in South America. Another equally mysterious wave of extinctions affected large Caribbean islands around 5,000 years ago. The coupling of these extinctions with the earliest appearance of human beings has led to the suggestion that foraging humans are to blame, although major climatic shifts were also taking place in the Americas during some of the extinctions. The last published volume with similar (but not identical) themes -- Extinctions in Near Time -- appeared in 1999; since then a great deal of innovative, exciting new research has been done but has not yet been compiled and summarized. Different chapters in this volume provide in-depth resumés of the chronology of the extinctions in North and South America, the possible insights into animal ecology provided by studies of stable isotopes and anatomical/physiological characteristics such as growth increments in mammoth and mastodont tusks, the clues from taphonomic research about large-mammal biology, the applications of dating methods to the extinctions debate, and archeological controversies concerning human hunting of large mammals.

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Since the first edition was introduced in 1980,Paleoanthropology has been the leading text for theupper-level undergraduate or graduate course in humanevolution. Written by one of the world's leading experts on thesubject, and the only human evolution text written by a paleontologistwith direct experience with the fossil record, this new edition offerscomprehensive coverage of all aspects of human evolution. This editionhas been substantially revised and rewritten.It has been expanded toinclude the most recent research, theories, and new developments inthe field, making it the most up-to-date and complete text on thehuman fossil record available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A comprehensive and merticulous work
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!
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!
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 assimply a reference this mammoth book fails miserably.

Praise for Paleoanthropology
"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 humanevolution beginning with Miocene primates, proceeding throughaustralopithecine and Pleistocene Homo evolution, and ending with athorough analysis of the European fossil record. "Paleoanthropology" has three major strengths. The first lies inits detailed treatment of the fossil evidence over the last 5 millionyears. Every major specimen is described clearly, precisely and thoroughly.More importantly, each specimen is placed within the context of itsevolutionary significance. Its second strength lies in its treatment of theentire organism. Archaeology and behavioral theory are combined withmorphological evidence to arrive at a detailed appraisal of what thehominid was doing and why it was doing it. Rarely do textbooks adequatelyaddress such issues. Third, "Paleoanthropology" addresses everyimportant theoretical issue in paleoanthropology. Certainly Wolpoffemphasizes his views, but, in each case, he presents the variousprotagonists' views of how the evidence supports their opposing positions.For example, the predictions of the Recent Replacement model, and thesupporting fossil and archaeological evidence, are clearly presented.Wolpoff takes a position on this and other issues. All authors do so andare seldom criticized for it. However few authors go to the lengths thatWolpoff does to present all important alternative points of view. Anyoneinterested in detailed descriptions of the fossil material and thoroughdiscussions of central theoretical issues is strongly encouraged to readthis text.

Great for those well-versed in paleoanthropology
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 amountof information a reader needs to be equipped with already, in order tounderstand what the book has to offer; or, perhaps, over-estimated theintelligence of the reader.As the author warns, the book is not anintroductory book, and indeed quite challenging for those going in with 2-3courses 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 aboutwhat it is among the numerous topics in human evolution that the readerwants to know.This is the book I frequently look up when developing aproject, be it an analytical, historical, or literature review, or for aquick check on data.One finds morphological descriptions of all relevantfossils, with their historical background, dates, and their places inpaleoanthropology literature.More references are in the back of the book,as a good starting point. Drawings of fossils are effective enough forthose familiar with human osteology and the fossil record to have a mentalimage.Numerous tables (116 in number) and figures (392 in number) providedrawings, numbers, lists, and comparisons within and between fossil samplesacross vast range of time and space. The author states that it is thespecific perspective of the author that is presented in the textbook, andto his credit, the interpretations are unmistakably so.The book isheavy to carry around and does not look simple, sophisticated or elegant. But I appreciate this book that presents human evolution as much more thanthe simplistic and almost flippant package of ponderings often witnessed inthe literature. ... Read more

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The objective of the volume is to bring together, in one collection, the most innovative dental anthropological research as it pertains to the study of hominid evolution. In the past few decades both the numbers of hominid dental fossils and the sophistication of the techniques used to analyze them have increased substantially. The book’s contributions focus on dental morphometrics, growth and development, diet and dental evolution.

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This volume brings together a group of authors that address the question of the first out of Africa into Asia c. 2 Ma.The scope of the book is comprehensive as it covers almost every major region of Asia.The primary goal of this volume is to provide an updated synthesis of the current state of the Asian paleoanthropological and paleoenvironmental records.Papers include detailed studies of the theoretical constructs underlying the move out of Africa, including detailed reconstructions of the paleoenvironment and possible migration routes.Other papers detail the Plio-Pleistocene archaeological and hominin fossil records of particular regions. ... Read more

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Until recently the scientific study of the prehistoric peoples of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the South Asian borderlands has been neglected, beyond some cursory comments in the popular literature about archaeological discoveries. Here is a book that offers much more: a broad survey of all prehistoric cultures of the Indian subcontinent from Paleolithic to Iron Age times.
Written in a style accessible to the general reader, the book pioneers a new approach involving the integration of data from archaeological, paleontological, ecological, and anthropological investigations to offer a comprehensive picture of the origins, diversity, and lifeways of southern Asian populations. Complex scientific ideas are clearly and carefully explained in early chapters as the author considers the theories of human origins in Asia and the significance of the fossils of anthropoid apes recovered from the Siwalik hills (the "God-Apes"). Thereafter the text carries the story of human life on the subcontinent through distinct cultural periods from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age.
Over the course of the book Kenneth A. R. Kennedy demonstrates that South Asian paleoanthropology has been formed by two intellectual forces: Western scientific traditions and native Vedic traditions. The interactions of Western and South Asian scholars have produced a unique approach to the study of ancient populations in this part of the world.
No other book exists today on this subject, and God-Apes and Fossil Men: Paleoanthro-pology of South Asia serves as a model for future studies of ancient peoples and places.
Kenneth A. R. Kennedy is Professor of Ecology, Anthropology, and Asian Studies in the Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University. He has over thirty-five years of field and laboratory research in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the borderlands.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

South Asian Paleoanthropology: New insight
Dear Sir,
I searched your web site under books by Dr. Kenneth K. A. Kennedy. The book entitled "God-Apes and Fossil men: Paleoanthropology of South Asia" was of interest to me I read the book from a friend. I was told that the person who writes the first review of a book gets a reward of $ 25 from your company. I wrote the review of this book and submitted to you. You published the review. It now appears on your site after the book is mentioned under the name of the author & book search. I now request you to send me the following book by speed post mail at my address. Dr. K. L. Mehra c/o Dr. Rimjhim Mehra, 8421 High Meadow Drive, PLANO, Tx-75025.

Name of book: Daniel Martin Varisco: Medieval Agriculture and Islamic Science. The almanac of a Yemeni Sultan. Used book priced at dollars 15.89.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
K. L Mehra

South Asian Paleoanthropology ; new insight
Five Stars:Scholarly, Comprehensive, Insightful and Superbly Good Read. August 23, 2001. Reviewer: K. L. Mehra, Former Director & Expert F.A.O., Rome, Italy.

This book is a must read for students and professionals alike, and others with interest in hominid / human skeleton remains and the information these remains hold for understanding the biological history and diversity of South Asia�s people. Kenneth A.R. Kennedy sets forth to test the validity of some hypothesis that emerged from the interpretation of such findings. After presenting precise accounts of different viewpoints, Kennedy provides an unbiased fresh insight based on his interdisciplinary approach, integrating archaeological, geological, linguistic, fossil, and historical evidences. It contains a balanced and scholarly treatment of the latest methods used in skeleton biological analysis. The book should become a model reference work for understanding paleoanthropology of a single region. The major merit of author�s approach has been a critical presentation of European concepts of human origins, biological diversity, and pre-historic life ways, and to appraise the reader about how those concepts were superimposed upon more native traditions, which addressed many of the same questions but from within an entirely distinctive cultural context and perceptions.Kennedy provides sufficient supportive evidences, which suggest that there was no abrupt transition or mass migration of food- producing new races into the hunting territories of longer settled people in South Asia. Faunal and floral evidences from certain sites in Rajasthan and the Ganges valley suggest incipient practices of plant and animal domestication among Mesolithic groups. Emergence of food production strategies was a gradual transition that took place in different localities at different times.Kennedy discusses paleodemographic and anatomical data, which points out that the participants in the mature phase of Harappan civilization were not a mysterious people of unknown biological origins, or migrants from other centers of high culture in western Asia, but were descendants of populations identified with the pre-Harappan cultures of northwestern sector of the sub-continent. Kennedy argues that Indian three-race concept paradigm about caste (including the status of Aryan lineage) and a western argument, favoring demic migrations, is not tenable. Professionals of different disciplines, students, and even lay people alike will all find something thought- provoking in this book. Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
L.G. Freeman is a major scholar of Old World Paleolithic prehistory and a self-described "behavioral paleoanthropologist." Anthropology without Informants is a collection of previously published papers by this preeminent archaeologist, representing a cross section of his contributions to Old World Paleolithic prehistory and archaeological theory.

A sociocultural anthropologist who became a behavioral paleoanthropologist late in his career, Freeman took a unique approach, employing statistical or mathematical techniques in his analysis of archaeological data. All the papers in this collection blend theoretical statements with the archeological facts they are intended to help the reader understand.

Although he taught at the University of Chicago for the span of his 40-year career, Freeman is not well-known among Anglophone scholars, because his primary fieldwork and publishing occurred in Spain. He has, however, been a major player in Paleolithic prehistory, and this volume will introduce him to American achaeologists unfamiliar with his work. ... Read more

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This volume brings together new and important research from the top experts in hominid diets across multiple fields. The objective of the volume is to explore if there is a consensus between the different methods, allowing us to better understand the nature of hominin dietary strategies through time. Contributions focus on modern studies, faunal studies, physical anthropology, archaeological studies, and isotopic studies, all aimed at answering the major questions of the evolution of hominid diets, such as: meat-eating emergence, hunting vs. scavenging, hunting technologies, and resource intensification in later humans.

‘Assembling a rich blend from the realms of archaeology, paleoanthropology and isotopic analysis, this excellent text confronts the perennial question: what was our ancestral diet?’ Henry Schwarcz, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

'This masterful multidisciplinary synthesis of human dietary evolution is simply a must-have reference for all biological anthropologists, archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists interested in our past.' Leslie Aiello, Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research

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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.

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This volume presents the work of researchers at many sites spanning the East African Pliocene. The authors take a broad approach that seeks to compare paleoenvironmental and paleoecological patterns across localities and among various taxonomic groups. This volume aims to synthesize large amounts of faunal data, and to present the evolution of East African vertebrates in the context of environmental and climatic changes during the Pliocene.

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The present book represents one of two volumes which arose from the results of an international congress in honor of the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the famous Neanderthal fossils. It complements the paleontologically orientated volume (edited by G.-C. Weniger and S. Condemi) and has its focus on multiple aspects of archaeological investigation on Neanderthal lifeways. In-depth studies of top-ranking scientists, incorporating a variety of different regions and time frames, provide a detailed and comprehensive survey of contemporary research. Subdivided into five major fields of study – chronology, subsistence, technology, land use and cultural adaptations among late Neanderthals – the volume covers a wide range of innovative approaches. ... Read more

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A collection of 16 papers forming the Acts of the XIVth UISPP Congress, University of Liege, Belgium, 2-8 September 2001. They address the application of 3-D imaging, the pitfalls involved, methodology and its use for reconstruction purposes with relation to prehistoric case studies. ... Read more

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The contemporary deserts of Arabia form some of the most dramatic arid landscapes in the world; yet, during many times in the past, the region was well-watered, containing evidence for rivers and lakes. Climatic fluctuations through time must have had a profound effect on human population that lived and passed through the region. In this book, paleoenvironmental specialists, archaeologists and geneticists are brought together to provide a comprehensive account of the evolution of human populations in Arabia. A wide range of topics are explored in this book, including environmental change and its impact on human populations, the movement and dispersal of populations through the region, and the origin and spread of food producing economies. New theories and interpretations are presented which provide new insights into the evolution of human populations in a key region of the world.