The Paleoanthropology of Eastern Asia

Research in human evolution in Asia has long been thought to lag far behind similar research in Africa and Europe. However, the limited dissemination of findings is often to blame, rather than a lack of scholarship. The Paleoanthropology of Eastern Asia attempts to rectify this misconception by synthesizing research on human evolution in eastern Asia into a single authoritative and definitive text. Covering the span of time from more than two million years ago to the end of the last Ice Age 15,000 years ago, this book examines key events, such as the arrival of the earliest hominins in eastern Asia and the evolution and interaction of various hominin species, including Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, and and a few more in between.
While fossils reveal what these hominins may have looked like, the rich Paleolithic archaeological record yields insights into their behavior: Hand axes have been found in eastern Asia where they were previously believed to have been absent. Watercraft was used by foragers as early as 40,000 years ago to voyage to the Japanese archipelago. In Indonesia, cave art paintings older than those from the Lascaux caves in France have been reported. Such new and important discoveries continue to emerge. Providing comprehensive coverage of paleoanthropological research in eastern Asia—from the groundbreaking finds in a cave near Beijing in the early twentieth century to the discovery and identification of new human species during the twenty-first century—this book will captivate anyone interested in the human evolutionary record.

• Christopher J. Bae, Author

  Christopher J. Bae is a paleoanthropologist in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

• This engaging and authoritative synthesis of human biological and cultural evolution in East Asia weaves together the archaeological and paleontological evidence. Paleoanthropological research in East Asia has long been overshadowed by research in Europe and Africa, but in recent decades the premier importance of the region has grown significantly along with spectacular new discoveries. The author, one of the leading authorities on paleoanthropological research in Asia, is able to contribute personal experiences and first-hand knowledge to the latest findings and current debates. This superb book is a must-have acquisition for anyone interested in human evolution and prehistory.
  —Terry Harrison, Professor Emeritus, New York University
• The book is authoritative, well written, and extensively illustrated, and is highly recommended as an undergraduate text, a popular survey, or semi-technical introduction.
  —E. Delson, emeritus, CUNY Herbert H. Leyman College, CHOICE Reviews
• [The Paleoanthropology of Eastern Asia] is a well-written, well-organized, and thoroughly researched volume. It incorporates the latest scholarship, is supported by an extensive bibliography, and offers abundant material for further reflection. . . . The book successfully combines the characteristics of a scholarly monograph, a textbook, and a reference work. Although it is primarily intended for graduate students and specialists in paleoanthropology, it will also be of considerable interest to researchers in related disciplines, including archeology, anthropology, history, human biology, and bioarcheology. In sum, The Paleoanthropology of Eastern Asia is a significant contribution to the study of human evolution in East and Southeast Asia. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the available evidence and underscores the growing importance of Southeast Asia in paleoanthropological research. This volume will serve as a valuable reference for students and scholars for years to come.
  —Thanik Lertcharnrit, Silpakorn University, Journal of the Siam Society 114:2