Reconstructing Human Origins: A Modern Synthesis 2e : W. W. Norton College Books

Chapter 1: Humans as Primates
Introduction
What Distinguishes Humans from Other Primates?
Basic Primate Morphology
Chapter 2: The Plio-Pleistocene World
Reconstructing the Plio-Pleistocene World
Evidence of Climatic Change from Glacial Stratigraphy
Summary of Plio-Pleistocene Glaciations
Evidence of Climatic Change from Deep-Sea Cores
Causes of Climatic Change during the Plio-Pleistocene
Carbon Isotope Analyses
The Plio-Pleistocene Time Scale
The Contribution of Geomagnetic Reversal Studies
The Archeological Time Scale
Effects of Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene Climates on Hominin Evolution
Chapter 3: Finding and Dating Fossil Hominins
Introduction
Finding Fossil Hominins
Dating Fossil Hominins
Relative Dating
Absolute Dating: Radiometric and Other Techniques
Summary of Absolute Dating Techniques
Chapter 4: Naming and Classifying Fossil Hominins
Three Analytical Levels of Classification and Phylogeny
Two Schools of Classification
The Problems of Classification
The Tempo and Mode of Human Evolution
Chapter 5: Before the Bipeds: Human Antecedents among the Miocene Hominoids
Introduction
Africa in the Miocene
East Africa in the Miocene
Eurasia in the Miocene
Overview of Miocene Hominoids
Characteristics of Early Miocene Hominoids (Proconsul)
Characteristics of Middle/Late Miocene Hominoids
Summary of Craniodental Adaptations of Middle Miocene Hominoids
The Role of Molecular Clocks in Hominoid Classification
Speculations
Chapter 6: The Earliest Hominins (I): The Australopiths of Southern Africa
Introduction
The Australopiths of Southern Africa: The Setting
Summary of Southern African Sites
The Australopiths of Southern Africa: The Players
Chapter 7: The Earliest Hominins (II): The Australopiths of Eastern Africa
The Australopiths of Eastern Africa: The Setting
Summary of East African Sites
The Australopiths of Eastern Africa: The Players
Comparison of "Gracile" and "Robust" Australopiths
Chapter 8: Australopith Paleobiology and Phylogeny
Introduction
Craniofacial Morphology
Body Size and Brain Size
Bipedal Locomotion: Morphology and Biomechanical Principles
Locomotor Adaptations in Other Australopiths
Paleopediatrics: Australopiths and Obstetrics
Behavioral Theories for the Evolution of Bipedalism
Seed-eating, Sex, Reproduction, and Learning
Phylogeny and Classification: Current Issues and Debates
Chapter 9: The Emergence of Culture and the Origins of the Genus Homo
Behavioral and Cultural Trends in Early Hominins
What Is Culture?
Overview of the Genus Homo
The Discovery of "Handyman": Homo habilis
Morphological Features of Homo habilis
Homo Habilis: One Species or Two?
Have the Limits of Homo Been Dtretched Too Far?
Early Hominin Lifestyles: Tinker, Tailer, Scavenger, Hunter?
The Debate over "Man the Hunter"
Thermoregulation and Bipedalism
Chapter 10: Quo Vadis Homo erectus?
Introduction
Homo erectus from Southeast Asia (Central and East Java)
Homo erectus from East Asia: China
Homo erectus in Africa?
Current Issues and Debates
Chapter 11: Almost There—But Not Quite: "Archaic" Hominins of the Middle Pleistocene
Introduction
The First "Archaic" Hominins Out of Africa
Dmanisi (Republic of Georgia)
The Older "Archaic" Hominin Group
The Younger "Archaic" Hominin Group
Some Dental Trends in Middle Pleistocene "Archaic" Hominins
"Archaic" Hominins from China
"Archaic" Hominins from Africa
Chapter 12: Between Apes and Humanity: "Modern" Human Origins
Introduction
Current Issues and Debates over Modern Human Origins: Out-of-Africa or Multiregional Continuity?
What Do the Molecules Say?
Conclusions: A "Mostly" Out of Africa Model
Chapter 13: What the Fossils Say about "Modern" Human Origins: A Reality Check
Introduction
Fossil Evidence from Africa
Fossil Evidence from Europe: The Neanderthal Question
Fossil Evidence from the Near East
Fossil Evidence from Australasia
Epilogue
Brainteasers
Glossary
References
Index

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W. W. Norton & Company : College Books

Reconstructing Human Origins

Contents