Bones, stones, and molecules : "out of Africa" and human origins

Description

Bones, Stones and Molecules provides some of the best evidence for resolving the debate between the two hypotheses of human origins. The debate between the 'Out of Africa' model and the 'Multiregional' hypothesis is examined through the functional and developmental processes associated with the evolution of the human skull and face and focuses on the significance of the Australian record. The book analyzes important new discoveries that have occurred recently and examines evidence that is not available elsewhere. Cameron and Groves argue that the existing evidence supports a recent origin for modern humans from Africa. They also specifically relate these two theories to interpretations of the origins of the first Australians. The book provides an up-to-date interpretation of the fossil, archaeological and the molecular evidence, specifically as it relates to Asia, and Australia in particular. * Readily accessible to the layperson and professional * Provides concise coverage of current scientific evidence * Presents a robust computer-generated model of human speciation over the last 7 million years * Well illustrated with figures and photographs of important fossil specimens * Presents a synthesis of great ape and human evolution.  Read more... Acknowledgements -- Preface -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Evolution of the Miocene Great Apes -- 3. The Later Miocene and Early Pliocene Hominids -- 4. Our Kind of Hominins -- 5. A Systematic Scheme for the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Hominids -- 6. The First African Exodus: The Emergence of Early Homo in Europe and Asia -- 7. Human Evolution in the Middle Pleistocene -- 8. The Grisly Folk: The Emergence of the Neanderthals -- 9. The Second African Exodus: The Emergence of Modern Humans -- 10. The Emergence of Modern Humans in Asia and Australia -- 11. Epilogue -- Appendix: Detailed Description of Characters (DWC) -- References -- Index. Introduction -- Evolution of the Miocene great apes -- Later Miocene and Pliocene hominids -- Our kind of hominins -- A systematic scheme for the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene hominids -- The first African exodus : the emergence of early homo in Europe and Asia -- Human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene -- "The grisly folk" : the emergence of the Neanderthals -- The second African exodus : the emergence of modern humans -- The emergence of modern humans in Asia and in Australia -- Epilogue