
The Bone Readers
Atoms, genes and the politics of Australia's deep past
Allen & Unwin (Publisher)
Published on 1. March 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-74114-728-5 (ISBN)
Description
Who owns the past? How do you read ancient bones? And what do artefacts, pollen and genes from the ice ages tell us about our origins? Using ever more refined techniques, scientists can now describe ancient landscapes and the early humans and animals once inhabiting them. The Bone Readers examines the facts and myths about the first human arrival in Australia and its region; what modern DNA tells us about the origin of Australian Aborigines; theories on the Indonesian hobbits'; and who or what killed off Australia's giant marsupials. The findings from Australia and its neighbours are echoed in debates over the mysterious demise of the Neanderthals and shed light on human evolution. But, as ever, the scientists are divided. The Bone Readers exposes a hidden world of colourful characters and passionate debate and some truly weird ideas. This book sets the record straight for anyone puzzled by the myriad claims and counterclaims about who did what, when and to whom in Australia's deep past and explains the science behind the latest techniques in an accessible way. Not shy of controversy, The Bone Readers is bound to stir debate.This excellent book not only clearly presents the science behind research on human origins, but also the personalities and the politics.
'Professor Chris Stringer FRS, The Natural History Museum, London
'Professor Chris Stringer FRS, The Natural History Museum, London
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
St Leonards NSW
Australia
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
352 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-74114-728-5 (9781741147285)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
PROFESSOR CLAUDIO TUNIZ is a world-renowned expert in geochronology using particle accelerators. He is Assistant Director of UNESCO's International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, where he promotes the use of atomic and nuclear physics in palaeoanthropology. He was director of the accelerator dating centre at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and has published widely on Australian prehistory. RICHARD GILLESPIE built a radiocarbon laboratory at Sydney University before taking up research positions at the University of Oxford, the University of Arizona and the Australian National University. He is an authority on dating bones and shells, with wide fieldwork experience in Africa, North America and Australia.CHERYL JONES is a science journalist who for many years has covered developments in Australian prehistory for international and Australian media, including The Australian Financial Review, The Canberra Times and The Bulletin
Content
JunettI LANDFALL1 Timelords and god-scientists2 Heat and light3 Mungo Lady gets date4 Stairway to heavenII EXTINCTION5 The melee6 Inside Geny's eggshell7 Frank the Diprotodon8 Silicon beasts9 New World Order10 Blast from the past11 Bison12 Cosmic impact13 Cool science, hot politics14 Extinction scienceIII ORIGINS15 Gene wars16 Roots17 Hobbits18 Neanderthal19 'Vampire' project20 Back to countryEpilogueBibliographyReferencesIndex