Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution (eBook)

Bernard Wood is the University Professor of Human Origins in the Department of Anthropology at George Washington University, and Adjunct Senior Scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution. He is a medically-qualified paleoanthropologist who moved into full-time academic life in 1972. He holds the degrees of B.Sc., M.D., Ph.D., and D.Sc. from The University of London. In 1982 he was appointed to the S.A. Courtauld Chair of Anatomy in The University of London, and in 1985 he moved to the Derby Chair of Anatomy and to the Chairmanship of the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Liverpool. He was appointed the Dean of The University of Liverpool Medical School in 1995 and served as Dean until his move to Washington in the fall of 1997.When he was still a medical student he joined Richard Leakey's first expedition to what was then Lake Rudolf in 1968 and he has remained associated with that research group, and pursued research in paleoanthropology, ever since. His research centers on increasing our understanding of human evolutionary history by developing and improving the ways we analyze the hominid fossil record. He is the author of numerous publications and Director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology at GWU.

Contributors vii

Editor

Executive Editor

Assistant Executive Editor

Senior Editorial Assistant

Editorial Assistant

Associate Editors

Advisory Editors

Section and Topic Editors

Contributors

Foreword by Francisco J. Ayala xi

Preface xviii

Acknowledgments xxi

Topic Entry List xxiii

List of Abbreviations lxxvii

A-Z 1

References i

Reviews from the Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human
Evolution, 2 Volume Set:

"This two volume hardbound set aims to provide a fairly
comprehensive reference work to the fascinating area of human
evolution; or as the book terms it "an authoritative and
accessible source of information about the hominin clade of the
tree of life." (Reference Reviews, 2012)

Editor Bernard Wood and a veritable "who's
who" of scholars have produced a volume (in fact two) that is
unquestionably the most authoritative and thorough compilation of
information regarding human evolutionary studies ever packaged
between two (actually four) hardcovers. Often such
encyclopedic undertakings end up resembling a soup dish -
broad and shallow. Not so the Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of
Human Evolution. It is destined to become the true tureen
(broad and deep) of this genre for years to come. This
compilation is a stunning editorial achievement and should find a
place on the book shelf of any serious student of paleoanthropology
- at ~ 900 pages, it is guaranteed to fill, both literally and
figuratively, the gap in any personal or academic library.

"This is both an enjoyable and a truly useful book. If you're
rolling in money, go and get it; if not, check it out from the
library fast. It'll be an old friend before you know it."
(Evolutionary Anthropology, 2012)

"In addition to being an excellent resource for one's own
research, Wood's encyclopedia is indispensable for preparing
lectures at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. It provides
comprehensive treatments of topics that one should remember (but
inevitably does not) from their own graduate training. The
paleoanthropological perspective and focus on each topic is very
useful and difficult to find anywhere else". (UCL Anthropology,
2012)

"The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia's overall comprehensiveness is
assured not only by the very ecumenical view of paleoanthropology's
scope that is so amply reflected in the volumes' diverse coverage,
but by the division of the extensive subject-matter into a huge
number of snappy bite-sized pieces." (Elsevier, 2 January 2012)

"As Senior Editor, Professor Wood has assembled a resource of
great value to a wide audience across the disciplines. Nowhere else
is there a complete inventory of fossils by site of discovery!
Francisco Ayala's graceful introductory essay is followed by a list
of topics that gives a unique overview of the riches beyond in the
full entries. The level of detail is superb, but not overwhelming.
About 2500 references." (Professor Caleb E. Finch, University of
Southern California, 2011)

"The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution is to date
the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information on the
topic. It is top-level science made appealing to professonals and
non-professionals alike. Its cleverly structured cross-indexed
entries make it an irreplaceable book for anyone interested in
Paleoanthropology, an absolute must..." (Max Planck Institute for
Evolutionary Anthropology, 2011)

"Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution is the most
comprehensive and authoritative compilation of information
pertaining to the origin of humans that currently exists. Most
importantly these volumes are accessible and "user friendly" to the
amateur as well as the most sophisticated specialist. I refer to
these volume regularly." (The Salk Institute for Biological
Studies, 2011)

"Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through
researchers/faculty; general readers." (Choice, 1 October 2011)