The Palaeolithic Settlement of Asia (Cambridge World Archaeology)

This book provides the first analysis and synthesis of the evidence of the earliest inhabitants of Asia before the appearance of modern humans 100,000 years ago. Asia has received far less attention than Africa and Europe in the search for human origins, but is no longer considered of marginal importance. Indeed, a global understanding of human origins cannot be properly understood without a detailed consideration of the largest continent. In this study, Robin Dennell examines a variety of sources, including the archaeological evidence, the fossil hominin record, and the environmental and climatic background from Southwest, Central, South, and Southeast Asia, as well as China. He presents an authoritative and comprehensive framework for investigations of Asia’s oldest societies, challenges many long-standing assumptions about its earliest inhabitants, and places Asia centrally in the discussions of human evolution in the past two million years. This Book Provides The First Analysis And Synthesis Of The Evidence Of The Earliest Inhabitants Of Asia Before The Appearance Of Modern Humans 100,000 Years Ago. Asia Has Received Far Less Attention Than Africa And Europe In The Search For Human Origins, But It Is No Longer Considered To Be Of Marginal Importance. Indeed, A Global Perspective On Human Origins Cannot Be Properly Attained Without A Detailed Consideration Of The Largest Continent. In This Study, Robin Dennell Examines A Variety Of Sources, Including The Archaeological Evidence, The Fossil Hominin Record, And The Environmental And Climatic Background From Southwest, Central, South, And Southeast Asia, As Well As China. He Presents An Authoritative And Comprehensive Framework For Investigations Of Asia's Oldest Societies, Challenges Many Long-standing Assumptions About Its Earliest Inhabitants, And Places Asia Centrally In The Discussion Of Human Evolution In The Past Two Million Years.--jacket. Asia And Its Place In Palaeoanthropology -- The African Background To The Colonisation Of Asia -- The Climatic Background To Hominin Settlement In Asia Before 1 Ma -- The Earliest Inhabitants Of Southwest Asia -- The Earliest Inhabitants Of South And Southeast Asia And China -- Out Of Africa 1 Reconsidered And The Earliest Colonisation Of Asia -- The Climatic And Environmental Background To Hominin Settlement In Asia Between Ca. 1 Ma And The Last Interglacial -- The Middle Pleistocene Archaeological Record For Southwest And Central Asia -- The Middle Pleistocene Archaeological Record Of The Indian Subcontinent -- The Middle Archaeological Record Of China And Southeast Asia -- Human Evolution In Asia During The Middle Pleistocene. Robin Dennell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 489-539) And Index. Cover 1 Half-title page 2 Series page 4 Title page 6 Copyright page 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 List of Tables, Figures, and Boxes 12 Preface 20 1 - Asia and Its Place in Palaeoanthropology 26 2 - The African Background to the Colonisation of Asia 34 3 - The Climatic and Environmental Background to Hominin Settlement in Asia before 1 MA 60 4 - The Earliest Inhabitants of Southwest Asia 107 5 - The Earliest Inhabitants of South and Southeast Asia and China 153 6 - “Out of Africa 1” Reconsidered and the Earliest Colonisation of Asia 211 7 - The Climatic and Environmental Background to Hominin Settlement in Asia between ca. 1 Ma and the Last Interglacial 228 8 - The Middle Pleistocene Archaeological Record for Southwest and Central Asia 284 9 - The Middle Pleistocene Archaeological Record of the Indian Subcontinent 360 10 - The Middle Pleistocene Archaeological Record of China and Southeast Asia 420 Untitled 463 11 - Human Evolution in Asia during the Middle Pleistocene 461 12 - Concluding Remarks 493 Appendix 1 - The Sizes of Countries and Regions in Asia, with Comparative Examples 499 Appendix 2 - Geographical Coordinates of Principal Early Palaeolithic Sites in Asia 501 Appendix 3 - Geographical Coordinates of Geological Sections and Cores 505 Appendix 4 - English Names of Various Mammals Recorded in Asia 507 Bibliography 509 Index 561 Asia and its place in palaeoanthropology The African background to the colonisation of Asia The climatic background to hominin settlement in Asia before a million years ago The earliest inhabitants of Southwest Asia The earliest inhabitants of South and Southeast Asia, and China "Out of Africa 1" reconsidered and the earliest colonisation of Asia The climatic and environmental background to hominin settlement in Asia between ca. 1 ma and the last interglacial The middle pleistocene archaeological record of Southwest and Central Asia The middle pleistocene archaeological record of the Indian sub-continent The archaeological record of China and Southeast Asia ca. 800 125 ka Human evolution in Asia during the middle pleistocene. Robin Dennell provides authoritative discussion of the evidence for the earliest inhabitants of Asia, challenging long-standing assumptions