Java Man: How Two Geologists Changed the History of Human Evolution - Hardcover

Lewin, Roger; Curtis, Garniss H.; Swisher, Carl C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684800004 ISBN 13: 9780684800004

Publisher: Prentice Hall & IBD, 2000

Synopsis

Two geologists provide a jaunty account of their controversial discoveries on the island of Java: that human ancestors left Africa and migrated east almost two million years ago, much earlier than most anthropologists had believed; and that Homo erectus might have survived until as late as 27,000 years ago, which would mean it coexisted with Homo sapiens rather than being an evolutionary precursor. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

Review:

One of the most important events in the discovery of human ancestry was the 1892 discovery on the Indonesian island of Java of part of a fossil skull. Found by a Dutch army medic, Eugene Dubois, the part ape-like part human skull cap was dug out from ancient sediments along with fossils of animals that no longer live in Java. Dubois thought his Pithecanthropus erectus was the missing link between apes and humans and showed that humans had evolved in the Far East but hardly anyone believed him. Not until many years later was the importance of his find acknowledged. One of the problems was that it was not possible for Dubois to date his fossil. Java Man tells the story of how it has now become possible to accurately date such fossil remains of our ancient human relatives. Co-written by two American academic experts (Curtis and Swisher) on dating rocks and fossils and Roger Lewin, the author of many highly acclaimed books on human prehistory, we get a firsthand account of modern science in action. Anyone who does not think that scientists are human should read this book, it reveals in fascinating detail the all too familiar frailties of overwheening ambition, back stabbing and name calling which bedevil most human enterprise. And yet out of all the mess comes important evidence and insights into the story of our deep ancestry. In 1996, the American team dated some of the Java fossils at around 27,000 years old and shattered most expert preconceptions about when Java Man died out. If the date is correct then these extinct human relatives overlapped in time with modern humans who arrived in Australia at least 60,000 years ago. A great story, well told and accompanied by illustrations, notes and a useful index.--Douglas Palmer.

Review:

It's like finding a family of Neanderthals living in 1996 (NEWSWEEK, December 1996 issue, on Curtis & Swisher's findings.)

The world of anthropology has been turned on its head. (THE TIMES)

The story carries you along...provides a strong confirmation of the theory that 'Homo sapien s' evolved in Africa a few million years ago, at a time when there were several other 'Homo (species around the world.')

LITERARY REVIEW ('A new and surprising dimension to the evolutionary picture. these hypotheses alter the story of human origins dramatically.')

About this edition

• Publisher: Prentice Hall & IBD
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0684800004
• ISBN 13: 9780684800004
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256