Children of the ice age : how a global catastrophe allowed humans to evolve
Which came first in human evolution-upright walking or our large brain? Noted for his contributions to evolutionary theory, paleobiologist Stanley (Johns Hopkins) poses his own question: What catastrophe could have prompted our ancestor, Australopithecus arboreal-apelike and successful for one million years-to leave the safety of the trees for a much more dangerous life on the ground? He proposes that the onset of the modern Ice Age altered Africa's landscape, drastically reducing its woodlands and ultimately prompting Australopithecus to abandon trees, which finally provided the opportunity for a larger brain to evolve-possible only when our ancestors freed their hands to care for immature offspring. Stanley presents convincing arguments for the premise that a change of behavior tends to precede a major alteration of physiognomy. He supports the punctuated equilibrium theory of evolution, which makes Homo Sapiens a lucky accident rather than the logical outcome of natural selection; and shows that what sets us apart from all other species is our ability constantly to adjust our relationship to a changing environment. This fascinating, eminently readable book is sure to arouse controversy but contributes thought-provoking arguments to the continuing search for our evolutionary origins.Ch. 1. Spawning a Theory -- Ch. 2. The Southern Ape -- Ch. 3. Life Among the Lions -- Ch. 4. When Winters Began -- Ch. 5. Death Comes for Australopithecus -- Ch. 6. The Matter of Our Brain -- Ch. 7. A Catastrophic Birth for Homo -- Ch. 8. The Saga of Homo -- Ch. 9. An Unlikely Birth, a Dubious Future
Steven M. Stanleyill., maps ; 22 cm
