The unstoppable human species : the emergence of homo sapiens in prehistory / John J. Shea.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shea, John J. (John Joseph), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human beings--Origin.

Human beings.

Human evolution.

Prehistoric peoples.

Survival.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xviii, 345 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Summary:

In The Unstoppable Species John Shea explains how the earliest humans achieved mastery over all but the most severe, biosphere-level, extinction threats. He explores how and why we humans owe our survival skills to our global geographic range, a diaspora that was achieved during prehistoric times. By developing and integrating a suite of Ancestral Survival Skills, humans overcame survival challenges better than other hominins, and settled in previously unoccupied habitats. But how did they do it? How did early humans endure long enough to become our ancestors? Shea places 'how did they survive?' questions front and center in prehistory. Using an explicitly scientific, comparative, and hypothesis-testing approach, The Unstoppable Human Species critically examines much 'archaeological mythology' about prehistoric humans. Written in clear and engaging language, Shea's volume offers an original and thought-provoking perspective on human evolution. Moving beyond unproductive archaeological debates about prehistoric population movements, The Unstoppable Human Species generates new and interesting questions about human evolution.

Contents:

Cover

Half-title

Title page

Copyright information

Dedication

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Boxes

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 Introduction

An Unstoppable Species?

What Is This Book About?

Why Is This Subject Important?

For Whom Is This Book Intended?

How Does This Book Differ from Others?

Population Movements

Dispersal

Migration

Transhumance

Mixed Dispersals and Migrations

Questions about Human Evolution: Who, How, and Why

''Who Questions''

''How Questions''

Differences between Who and How Questions

''Why Questions''

Explaining the Past

Narrative Approaches

Comparative Approach

How this Book is Organized

Chapter 2 Hard Evidence

Time: Geochronology

Stratigraphic Dating

Geochronometric Dating

Radiocarbon Dating

Radiopotassium Dating

Uranium-Series Dating

Trapped Electron Dating Methods (TL, ESR, OSL)

Geochronology and ''Who Questions''

Chronostratigraphy: Dividing Time

Geological Epochs

Marine Isotope Stages

Biostratigraphy and Cultural Periodization

Proposed Dates Are Hypotheses

Fossils: Paleontology and Zooarchaeology

Describing Fossils

Taphonomy

Tool Marks versus Tooth Marks on Bone

Coprolites

Artifacts: Archaeology

Stone Tools

Archaeologists' Names for Stone Tools

Stone Tools, ''Modes,'' and Prehistoric Dispersals

Ceramics

Artifacts Made of Wood, Cordage, Bone, and Shell

Genes: Molecular Anthropology

Haplogroups

''For'' Genes

Summary

Chapter 3 Who are These People?

Humans as Primates

Hominins

Genus Homo

Humans (Homo sapiens)

How do Humans Differ from Other Animals?

Population Size

Ecological Range

Environmental Regulation

Global Impact

Cognition, Communication, and Intelligence

Knowledge Acquisition and Sharing.

Complex and Variable Technology

How do Humans Differ from One Another?

Races, Humor, Color, and Other Characteristics

''Definite-Article'' Cultures

Archaeological Stone Tool Industries and Ceramic Wares

Actual Cultural Differences among Living Humans

Lessons for Prehistoric Research

Chapter 4 How did they Get Here?

Arrows on Maps

Problems with Arrows on Maps

From ''Who Questions'' to ''How Questions''

Survival Archaeology

Archaeological Evidence

Experimental Archaeology

Ethnography and Ethnoarchaeology

Bushcraft

Wilderness Survival

Nonhuman Primate Ethology

The Big Six Survival Challenges

First Aid and Medication

Thermoregulation

Hydration

Nutrition

Transportation

Communication

Ancestral Survival Skills

Powerful Precision Grasping

Predictive Hallucination

Endurance Bipedalism

Language and Quantal Speech

Hyperprosociality

An Integrative Ancestral Survival Skills Hypothesis

Firemaking (as an Integrative Ancestral Survival Skill)

Cordage (as an Integrative Ancestral Survival Skill)

Reasonable Assumptions?

Watercraft

Communications

Chapter 5 Ancient Africans

Geography: The ''Four Africas''

''Four Africas''

Conditions Affecting Population Movements

Important Ancient African Paleoanthropological Sites

Ancient African Hominin Fossils

Homo heidelbergensis

Ancient African Homo sapiens

Other African Middle to Late Pleistocene Homo

Ancient African Archaeology

Bone Artifacts

Fire and Pyrotechnology

Symbolic Artifacts

Food Remains

Ancient Africans' Survival Strategies

First id and edication

Communication.

Interpretive Issues about Ancient Africans

Behavioral Differences between Ancient Africans and Homo heidelbergensis

Technological Intensification

Migration versus Dispersal

The Infiltration Hypothesis

Chapter 6 Going East: First Asians

Geography: The Levant, Arabia, and India

The East Mediterranean Levant

The Arabian Peninsula

The Indian Subcontinent

Important First Asian Paleoanthropological Sites

First Asian Hominin Fossils

Later Middle Pleistocene Fossils

Homo sapiens

Southwest Asian Neanderthals

First Asian Archaeology

Changes around 250 Ka

Changes around 50 Ka

First Asians' Survival Strategies

Interpretive Issues about First Asians

Behavioral Differences between First Asians and Ancient Africans

Nubian Cores as Evidence for Afro-Arabian Movements

Microliths as Evidence for Afro-Asiatic Movements

An Afro-Asiatic Human Origination Zone?

Future Research Directions

Chapter 7 Down Under: Early Southeast Asians and Sahulians

Geography: Sunda, Sahul, and Wallacea

Important Southeast Asian and Sahulian Paleoanthropological Sites

Southeast Asian and Sahulian Hominin Fossils

Other Southeast Asian Hominins

Pleistocene Archaeology of Southeast Asia and Sahul

Southeast Asians' and Sahulians' Survival Strategies

Interpretive Issues about Southeast Asians and Sahulians

Behavioral Differences among Southeast Asians, Sahulians, and First Asians.

Migration versus Dispersal

The Mount Toba Volcanic Eruption

Chapter 8 Neanderthal Country

Geography: Northwestern Eurasia before 45 Ka

The Mammoth Steppe

Important Neanderthal Paleoanthropological Sites

Neanderthal Fossils

Variation: Progressive versus Classic Neanderthals

Neanderthals' Relationships to Living Humans

Neanderthal Archaeology

Artifacts Made of Organic Materials

Neanderthals' Survival Strategies

Interpretive Issues about Neanderthals

Behavioral Differences between Neanderthals and Humans Who Lived before 45 Ka

Neanderthal Extinction

Chapter 9 Going North: Early Eurasians

Geography: Northern Eurasia after 45 Ka

Important Early Eurasian Paleoanthropological Sites

Early Eurasian Fossils

Early Eurasian Archaeology

Bone Tools and Other Artifacts

Art and Personal Adornment

Pyrotechnology

Biotechnology: Wolf-Dogs

Early Eurasians' Survival Strategies

Interpretive Issues about Early Eurasians

Behavioral Differences between Early Eurasians and Neanderthals

Why Is the Early Eurasians' Archaeological Record So Distinctive?

Chapter 10 A Brave New World: Pleistocene Americans

Geography: Pleistocene Beringia and the Americas

Important Pleistocene American Sites

Pleistocene American Fossils

Pleistocene American Archaeology

Fluted Points.

Artifacts Made of Organic Materials

Pleistocene Americans' Survival Strategies

Interpretive Issues about Pleistocene Americans

Behavioral Differences between Pleistocene Americans and Early Eurasians

American Megafauna Extinctions

Coastal versus Inland Routes from Beringia to the Americas

What Was the Clovis Phenomenon?

Clovis and American Megafauna Extinctions

Chapter 11 Movable Feasts: Food Producers and Migrations

Food Production

Plant Husbandry

Animal Husbandry and Pastoralism

Ecosystem Engineering

Origins of Food Production

Why Did People Begin Food Production?

Consequences of Food Production

Reduced Mobility

Population Increase

Habitat Deterioration

Intensification

Territorial Conflict

A Survival Archaeology Perspective on Food Production

Food Production and Ancestral Survival Strategies

Detecting Food Production

Implements

Containers

Architecture

Migrations by Food Producers

How and Why Food Producers' Migrations Succeed

Hypergyny

No Retreat

Detecting Migrations by Food Producers

Bantu Expansions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study

Migrations by Hunter-Gatherers

Chapter 12 Distant Horizons and Stars Beckon: Oceanic Islands and Beyond

Oceanic Migrations

Experimental Seafaring

Historic Oceanic Migrations

Distance

Disease

Competition

Slavery

Pleistocene Migrations to Mediterranean Islands

Pacific Ocean Migrations: The Road of the Winds.

Conditions Affecting Population Movements.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 16 Mar 2023).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781108579933

1108579930

9781108669832

1108669832

9781108554060

1108554067

OCLC:

1479851773