18世紀初期から今日までの古人類学の歴史を振り返ります。従来、古人類学の歴史の進展には、古気候学、地質年代学、系統分類学、遺伝学、発生生物学、など周辺領域からの貢献が欠かせませんでした。しかし古代人の骨からDNAデータの抽出・解析が可能になった近年、消えた謎の人類集団の存在が浮上するなど、直近50万年の人類進化に対する学識は一変しました。新たな知見を盛り込んだ解説を提供します。
   

• Traces the history of paleoanthropology from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the very latest fossil finds
• Explores how Ancient DNA studies have revolutionized how we view the recent (post-550 ka) human evolution
• Discusses discoveries of new taxa, as well as the suggestion from ancient DNA studies of 'ghost' taxa whose fossil records still remains to be discovered
• Explains how fossils are found, and analysed, and why they are interpreted in different ways
• Explains the functions of geochronology and paleoclimatology

    
The study of human evolution is advancing rapidly. Newly discovered fossil evidence is adding ever more pieces to the puzzle of our past, whilst revolutionary technological advances in the study of ancient DNA are completely reshaping theories of early human populations and migrations.
    
In this Very Short Introduction Bernard Wood traces the history of paleoanthropology from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the very latest fossil finds. In this new edition he discusses how Ancient DNA studies have revolutionized how we view the recent (post-550 ka) human evolution, and the process of speciation. The combination of ancient and modern human DNA has contributed to discoveries of new taxa, as well as the suggestion of 'ghost' taxa whose fossil records still remain to be discovered. Considering the contributions of related sciences such as paleoclimatology, geochronology, systematics, genetics, and developmental biology, Wood explores our latest understandings of our own evolution.