The Evolution of Modern Humans in Africa: A Comprehensive Guide (African Archaeology Series) - Tapa blanda

Willoughby presents a comprehensive, concise, and authoritative summary of the context of human evolution in the African continent as understood today...For college and university libraries supporting programs in anthropology and human evolution. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. All academic levels/libraries. * CHOICE * the text will be especially useful to the advanced undergraduate or graduate student....a valuable addition to academic libraries, and...useful for specialized, upper level teaching. -- Susan Pfeiffer, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto a truly comprehensive guide to the African fossil and archaeological record of later human evolution....the substantial background chapters on paleoenvironments, dating, and genetics, combined with an exhaustive review of sites, make this a suitable textbook, and a helpful starting point for more in-depth studies, as well as a useful desk reference for the specialist who might occasionally need to refresh his or her memory regarding the basic details of a site. * Paleoanthropology * I think that the text will be especially useful to the advanced undergraduate or graduate student....a valuable addition to academic libraries...useful for specialized, upper level teaching. * Canadian Journal of Archaeology * Willoughby's contribution is impressive in its breadth and its depth of coverage. * Canadian Journal of Archaeology * A milestone achievement, Willoughby's The Evolution of Modern Humans in Africa is the first continent-wide survey of the archaeology of our origins in what is universally regarded as the 'cradle of humanity.' This book is data-rich, authoritative, current-and unique. There's nothing like it on the market today! -- G.A. Clark, Arizona State University This book succeeds in its monumental task of providing a pan-African survey of archaelogical and paleontological sites....This book is an excellent review of the literature, providing readers with the history and development of research, the current state of knowledge in each field discussed, as well as a summary of major finds and sites. It provides a welcome shift in focus from a Eurocentric to a more African-focused view of modern human origins. -- Jennifer Thompson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas * American Journal Of Physical Anthropology * Willoughby...excels at providing, as the title suggests, a very comprehensive guide....Throughout the book she provides convincing evidence to support her view....An impressive body of data brought together with both a breadth and depth not seen in other publications on the subject....Willoughby's review is an excellent reference work. Each chapter could stand quite well on its own if used as part of a course....it could be an excellent course textbook on its own. * Journal Of African Archaeology, October 2008 * Willoughby tackles each of her topics with enthusiasm, never shying away from providing the reader with disciplinary and technical details....By far one of the best referenced works of its kind. * South African Archaelogical Bulletin * It is clearly written....The book works very well. * Antiquity, March 2009 * Best targeted toward upper-division undergraduate students....This volume is valuable...the reference list is robust....Her volume highlights well the vast amount of research that has been accomplished investigating modern human origins in Africa, and it also illustrates the abundance of work that remains before these issues are resolved. * Journal of Anthropological Research *

Pamela Willoughby provides a wide-ranging synthesis of current knowledge about the evolution of fully modern humans in Africa during the Middle Palaeolithic / Middle Stone Age. According to most scholars, our modern ancestors first emerged in Africa and then spread throughout the habitable world. Willoughby brings evidence from mitochondrial DNA, ancient fossils, and archaeological remains (including her own research in Tanzania) to bear on questions regarding the place of human species in nature, the specific origins of Homo Sapiens, and the dispersal of these modern humans throughout Africa and around the globe. She confronts straightforwardly the problems of dating the earliest modern humans, and she discusses the various alternative models of modern human origins, which will be debated for years to come. The Evolution of Modern Humans in Africa is a compelling, thought-provoking book for both students and scholars.