The names given to the variety of man-like fossils known to
scientists should reflect no more than scientific views of the
nature of human evolution. However, often in the past these names
have also reflected confusion regarding the basic principles of
scientific nomenclature; and the matter has been further
complicated by the many new finds of recent decades. It is the
unique purpose of this book to clarify the present state of
knowledge regarding the main lines of human evolution by expressing
what is known (and what is surmised) about them in appropriate
taxonomic language.
The papers in this volume were prepared by the world's leading
authorities on the subject, and were revised in the light of
discussions at a remarkable conference held in Austria in 1962
under the auspices of the Wenner-Gren Foundation. The authors
review first the meaning of taxonomic statements as such, and then
consider the substance of our present knowledge regarding the
number and characteristics of species among living and extinct
primates, including man and his ancestors. They also examine the
relationship of behavior changes and selection pressures in
evolutionary sequences.
Ample illustrations, bibliographies and an index enhance the
permanent reference value of the book, which will undoubtedly prove
to be among the fundamental paleoanthropological works of our
time.
Sherwood L. Washburn (1911-2000) was professor of physical
anthropology in the University of California at Berkeley. He was
the recipient of the Huxley Medal in 1967 and the American
Anthropological Association Distinguished Service Award in
1983.
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