The bone readers : atoms, genes and the politics of Australia's deep past

This is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of the facts and myths surrounding Australia's ancient past. Understanding human history and evolution has always been a contentious issue, but now, with ever more refined techniques, scientists are able to describe ancient landscapes and the early humans and animals that inhabited them in previously unimaginable detail. At the forefront of this research is Australia, a country with an incredibly ancient history - much of which is only just coming to light. "Bone Readers" is a fascinating and thoroughly entertaining volume that examines the facts and myths about Australia's past - including how and when first humans arrived, what modern DNA can tell us about the origin of Australian Aborigines, who or what killed off the country's giant marsupials, and much, much more. Bringing to life a hidden world of colorful characters, passionate debate, and some truly unusual ideas, and featuring interviews with many of the world's leading scientist, this is a must-have for anyone interested in the origins of human life. Eminent scientists set the record straight for readers puzzled by the myriad of claims and counterclaims about Australia's prehistory, arguing that many popular theories are based on misinterpretation or outright distortion of scientific evidence. 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 The Bone Readers Are A Dedicated Group Of Scholars Who Study The Earliest Human Remains, Their Chemistry And Dna, Their Extinct Floral And Faunal Contemporaries, And The Geologic Layers In Which They Were Found. Their Research Leads Them To Theories About Modern Human Origins That Continually Challenge Conventional Wisdom And Cherished Beliefs— About “eve ,” Neanderthals, “hobbits,” And The Bering Straits, Among Others. Two Leading Bone Readers And A Science Writer Have Penned A Literate, Authoritative Summary Of The Current Questions And The Minefield Of Academic Politics That Surround It. Ideal For Students In Human Origins Or Biological Anthropology Courses, And A Delightful Read.-- Junette -- Landfall. Timelords And God-scientists ; Heat And Light ; Mungo Lady Gets Date ; Stairway To Heaven -- Extinction. The Melée ; Inside Geny's Eggshell ; Frank The Diprotodon ; Silicon Beasts ; New World Order ; Blast From The Past ; Bison ; Cosmic Impact ; Cool Science, Hot Politics ; Extinction Science -- Origins. Gene Wars ; Roots ; Hobbit ; Neanderthal ; 'vampire' Project ; Back To Country -- Epilogue. Claudio Tuniz, Richard Gillespie, Cheryl Jones. Originally Published In Australia: The Bone Readers : Atoms, Genes And The Politics Of Australia's Deep Past. Crows Nest, N.s.w. : Allen & Unwin, 2009. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-245) And Index. "Who owns the past? Scientists are reconstructing human prehistory with ever more refined techniques at a time when Indigenous people are demanding ownership of it, and when many archaeologists are challenging the primacy of scientific evidence. 'The bone readers' examines the most controversial issues in Australian pre-history. With a razor sharp eye and a fine sense of irony, the authors explain which hypotheses don't have legs and expose the implications for the politics of the present. They examine the facts and myths about first human arrival in Australia and later waves of arrivals, the implications of the discovery of Homo floresiensis (hobbits), sensitivities around the demise of megafauna, rock art dating, and what DNA tells us about ownership of human remains. Findings in Australia have implications for the history of the human species throughout the world, and they show how they can throw light on human lineages and animal extinctions elsewhere. Throughout they explain the complexities of scientific techniques for the general reader. This book sets the record straight for readers puzzled by the myriad claims and counterclaims. Not shy of controversy, it is bound to stir debate."--Provided by publisher. About the Author......Page 1 Title Page......Page 3 Dedication......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Junette......Page 9 I LANDFALL......Page 13 1 Timelords and god-scientists......Page 15 2 Heat and light......Page 25 3 Mungo Lady gets date......Page 35 4 Stairway to heaven......Page 56 II EXTINCTION......Page 65 5 The melée......Page 67 6 Inside Geny's eggshell......Page 75 7 Frank the Diprotodon......Page 88 8 Silicon beasts......Page 103 9 New World order......Page 113 10 Blast from the past......Page 122 11 Bison......Page 125 12 Cosmic impact......Page 141 13 Cool science, hot politics......Page 145 14 Extinction science......Page 152 III ORIGINS......Page 157 15 Gene wars......Page 159 16 Roots......Page 169 17 Hobbit......Page 182 18 Neanderthal......Page 194 19 'Vampire' project......Page 204 20 Back to country......Page 221 Epilogue......Page 234 Notes......Page 237 Bibliography......Page 241 Acknowledgements......Page 262 Index......Page 263 An exploration of facts and myths that surround Australia's ancient past. It examines how and when first humans arrived, what modern DNA can tell us about the origin of Australian Aborigines, and who or what killed off the country's giant marsupials. Offers a summary of the questions and the minefield of academic politics that surround questioning anthropology's most cherished paradigms. This title is suitable for students in human origins or biological anthropology courses.