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Target Readership	Sen. Secondary					For help with criteria, click here
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Contents:

1 - Human evolution in perspective; 2 - Background to human evolution; 3 - Humans as animals; 4 - Hominin beginnings;5 - The hominin adaptation; 6 - Homo erectus: biology and behaviour; 7 - The origin of modern humans; 8 - The human milieu; 9 - New worlds.

Review:

At the start of environmental education in senior secondary schools in the UK there was a requirement from one syllabus that human development should be studied alongside human impact. This was never an easy option because even in those days there was the assumption that early people did little or no damage and that it was all during the modern era. Thankfully, this notion has now been disposed of but sadly, so have the innovative syllabuses requiring such study. Since the study of human development is still being discussed ( a recent 'find' of human remains has ignited the subject yet again) there is still a need for a good text. This particular book is in its fifth edition in a time frame of over 20 years which highlights the degree of development in the subject.

The book is divided into 9 parts each of which is comprised of a number of units. The first part looks at the place of human development studies within other fields. We start with a historical overview which highlights the history of the subject and outlines some of its more negative antecedents such as racism. This is followed by units looking at different philosophical perspectives, early evolutionary theory and modern developments. The final two units look at the geographical and extinction elements within which modern theory is set. Part two looks at some of the methods that can be used to get evidence about human development. Most important is dating evidence so that we can put various remains in a time line (although this doesn't always mean we will get an obvious solution!). Cladistics and the development of lineages is also vital because it shows where various developmental stages fit into each other. Remains need to be analysed and so burial becomes an important aspect. A final unit looks at primate development to see any parallels. Part three keeps with the animal theme by considering people as just another animal species. As with any species, morphology is one key determinant. There are also other areas to consider and these are dealt with in other units. Energy is important as is behaviour and social structure. Finally, we look at various models of development of parallel species e.g. primates. Part four takes us back to the very earliest humans (or hominins as they are referred to). Morphological relationships with close species e.g. apes are one major part of this work as is the development of these features through time. It's always been considered that bipedalism is a key human trait whilst jaws and teeth (often differentially preserved due to their resistant nature) are useful evidence where more remains are not found. Finally, we get an overview of the main hominin discoveries. Part five considers the development of people and their tools. The Australopithicine were the first group seen with some tool making ability but in this section we see further along the developmental track. Part six takes this work further but with just one species Homo erectus. The place of this species in the scheme of things has been the subject of debate for some time and here we get to see a review of the main points made in terms of morphology, tools and behaviour. Part seven carries on the story but with the Neanderthals and the various anatomical, genetic and archaeological evidence added. Part eight takes a different tack by looking at modern humans but in terms of their brain development and how this is shown in language and art. The final part looks at the spread of human settlement in the Americas and Australia and the development of agriculture.

This is a very good introduction. The large number of small units breaks up the subject in convenient ways making it easy to look at the various aspects of the subject. All units are very well illustrated and the language, although necessarily technical is accessible. Controversies are acknowledged and discussed. The book covers a great deal of ground in a very compact space making the topic far more appealing for those either new to the area of just in need of some basic material. It deserves a wide readership.