Before Modern Humans

New Perspectives on the African Stone Age

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Archaeology
Cover of the book Before Modern Humans by Grant S. McCall, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Grant S. McCall ISBN: 9781315433158
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: June 16, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Grant S. McCall
ISBN: 9781315433158
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: June 16, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

This fascinating volume, assessing Lower and Middle Pleistocene African prehistory, argues that the onset of the Middle Stone Age marks the origins of landscape use patterns resembling those of modern human foragers. Inaugurating a paradigm shift in our understanding of modern human behavior, Grant McCall argues that this transition—related to the origins of “home base” residential site use—occurred in mosaic fashion over the course of hundreds of thousands of years. He concludes by proposing a model of brain evolution driven by increasing subsistence diversity and intensity against the backdrop of larger populations and Pleistocene environmental unpredictability. McCall argues that human brain size did not arise to support the complex patterns of social behavior that pervade our lives today, but instead large human brains were co-opted for these purposes relatively late in prehistory, accounting for the striking archaeological record of the Upper Pleistocene.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This fascinating volume, assessing Lower and Middle Pleistocene African prehistory, argues that the onset of the Middle Stone Age marks the origins of landscape use patterns resembling those of modern human foragers. Inaugurating a paradigm shift in our understanding of modern human behavior, Grant McCall argues that this transition—related to the origins of “home base” residential site use—occurred in mosaic fashion over the course of hundreds of thousands of years. He concludes by proposing a model of brain evolution driven by increasing subsistence diversity and intensity against the backdrop of larger populations and Pleistocene environmental unpredictability. McCall argues that human brain size did not arise to support the complex patterns of social behavior that pervade our lives today, but instead large human brains were co-opted for these purposes relatively late in prehistory, accounting for the striking archaeological record of the Upper Pleistocene.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Enduring Desire by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Gambling Disorders in Women by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book An Essay on the Metaphysics of Descartes by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Common Knowledge (Routledge Revivals) by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book International Finance and Latin America by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Life Coaching by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book China's Regional Development by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Feminist Praxis (RLE Feminist Theory) by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book The State of Affairs by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Case Studies in Disaster Response and Emergency Management by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Robert Louis Stevenson in the Pacific by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Islam as Political Religion by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Anti-nuclear Protest in Post-Fukushima Tokyo by Grant S. McCall
Cover of the book Mathematical Knowledge for Primary Teachers by Grant S. McCall
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy