In this fresh and provocative view of a seven-million-year evolutionary
journey, Finlayson demonstrates the radical implications for the
interpretation of fossils and technologies and shows that understanding
humans within an ecological context provides insights into the emergence
and spread of Homo sapiens worldwide.
Finlayson argues that environmental change, particularly availability of
water, played a critical role in shaping the direction of human
evolution, contributing to our spread and success. He argues that our
ancestors carved a niche for themselves by leaving the forest and
forcing their way into a long-established community of carnivores in a
tropical savannah as climate changes opened up the landscape. They took
their chance at high noon, when most other predators were asleep.
Adapting to this new lifestyle by shedding their hair and developing an
active sweating system to keep cool, being close to fresh water was
vital. As the climate dried, our ancestors, already bipedal, became
taller and slimmer, more adept at travelling farther in search of water.
The challenges of seeking water in a drying landscape moulded the minds
and bodies of early humans and directed their migrations and eventual
settlements.
The accompanying reference guide is included as a PDF on this disc.
