The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Interest in our own origins dates back to a time well before anyone realized that we had a fossil record, or even an evolutionary past..." (more)
Key Phrases: human fossil record, most paleoanthropologists, single species hypothesis, Koobi Fora, South Africa, The Fossil Trail (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Head of Manhattan's American Museum of Natural History's anthropology department, Tattersall here weaves a vigorous historical narrative of paleontologists' attempts to reconstruct human origins from the fossil record. Beginning with the unearthing of Neanderthals and "Java Man," he carefully sifts through a remarkable succession of hominid finds from Africa, Eurasia, China, Indonesia and Israel, including Don Johanson's 1973 discovery in Ethiopia of "Lucy," a 3.4-million-year-old female hominid skeleton, and the Leakey team's 1984 find, "Turkana Boy," a 1.6-million-year-old Homo erectus skeleton uncovered in Kenya. Citing disagreements among scientists over interpretations of radiocarbon dating, comparative anatomy and biochemical techniques, Tattersall unreels a catalogue of paleoanthropological misidentifications, dogmas and misperceptions. He draws a hypothetical evolutionary tree that includes three genera of our hominid ancestors-Homo and Australopithecus (accepted by conventional wisdom) plus a new genus, Paranthropus-altogether embracing a dozen species leading to Homo sapiens. Illustrated.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This informative and highly readable introduction to paleoanthropology by the head of the anthropology department at the American Museum of Natural History surveys the major discoveries in hominid evolution (fossils and artifacts) and examines both past and present principal interpretations of this growing empirical evidence for the complex emergence of humankind. Important fossils from Olduvai and other sites are critically discussed in terms of modern hominid taxonomy within the framework of climatic fluctuations, environmental changes, and morphological variety (species diversity). Throughout this detailed story, Tattersall argues against both human orthogenesis and the one-species hypothesis for explaining hominid evolution. He focuses on australopithecine diversity and behavior, those questions still surrounding Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis, and the recent appearance of our own unique species in Africa. A fascinating and provocative overview of human paleontology that is highly recommended for all anthropology collections.
H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195109813
• ISBN-13: 978-0195109818
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,032,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history of paleoanthropology, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

Not only does Tattersall provide a comprehensive account of what is known about human evolution, he also tells the story from the point of view of the scientists who have shaped the field thus far. The chronology takes the reader not through the timeline of evolutionary history, but rather through that of its study. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a comprehensive and authoritative discussion of paleoanthropology and its own history as a field. The detail and historical framework may, however, not make this the best choice for someone with a casual interest in evolution.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on the current thoughts on human evolution, November 3, 1998

By	"rgrumm" (PA) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed this book from the perspective of knowing what we think we know about human evolution. The text is a bit dry at times, but loaded with many historic insights, making it worth the read.

This is a must have book for those interested in human evolution and want know where we "stand". I found more insights in this book than the Neanderthal Enigma, but the latter was a more fluid read.

I particularly liked the cladogram laying out the various species of homo. Very nice concise and summary on page 232 I have bookmarked. I found this and the time line summary at the beginning of the book quite helpful. I had not heard of homo ergaster until I picked up this book. I have recently attempted to apply cladograms to both meteorological theory and computer programming languages, they work quite well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tattersall provides access to a complex field, August 27, 2004

By	Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution (Hardcover)

Ian Tattersall does wonders for paleontology and anthropology. Here he literally explains "how we know what we think we know about human evolution."

Tattersall illuminates just how fasions and concepts are constantly shifting as new fossils are found. His description of how and where fossils are found is fascinating. We don't know nearly as much about human evolution as most might think. And what we think of evolution is subject to constant change - and not at all firm.

Overall, Tattersall provides an easily accessible path to a complex subject. Anyone with an interest in how humankind may have evolved will find this interesting reading.

Jerry