Genetic, linguistic, and archaeological perspectives on human diversity in Southeast Asia : Yunnan University, China, 26-27 June 2000

Southeast Asia is regarded as one of the birthplaces of modern humans. Recent genetic evidence shows that it was probably the entry point of modern humans from Africa into East Asia and Oceania. With the help of new markers - mostly from the Y-chromosome and mtDNA - several recent efforts have been made to study the populations of Southeast Asia, which have been somewhat neglected in the past. A new picture of the origin and migrations of modern humans in this region is quickly emerging. In this book, the leading researchers in the studies of Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Oceanian populations present the most up-to-date results of their research. Southeast Asia is regarded as one of the birthplaces of modern humans. Recent genetic evidence shows that it was probably the entry point of modern humans from Africa into East Asia and Oceania. With the help of new markers X mostly from the Y-chromosome and mtDNA X several recent efforts have been made to study the populations of Southeast Asia, which have been somewhat neglected in the past.A new picture of the origin and migrations of modern humans in this region is quickly emerging. In this book, the leading researchers in the studies of Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Oceanian populations present the most up-to-date results of their research. In this well-crafted omnibus, the editors have assembled a series of studies which provide insight into the peopling Asia and Oceania that is as deep as it is fascinating. The cross-disciplinary correlation of both field and laboratory data make for reading that will be interesting for a wide variety of readers. As a professional molecular biologist and an armchair anthropologist, I found the level of scholasticism to be more than approachable and the selection of included works to be thoughtful and incisive. Integrating archaeology, historic linguistics and genetics when investigating major trends in world prehistory is one of the most alluring, but at the same time, one of the most testing of objectives.