history of paleoanthropology
Human evolution research has existed for more than 150 years, and the ideas of past scientists continue to shape our concepts and practices today.
A remembrance of Frans de Waal
Among many highlights of this primatologist's work, he maintained that humans are not unique or separated from other primates.
![Frans de Waal giving a lecture](/content/images/size/w1460/2024/03/frans-de-waal-tedx-peachtree-wikimedia-commons.jpg)
Secrets within the teeth of the first Homo fossils
New studies of the enamel-dentin junction show that early members of our genus may have been less distinctive than we think
![Closeup of three left mandibular molars with cracks and wear](/content/images/size/w1460/2024/01/sk-15-occlusal-view-web-banner-johnhawks.jpg)
Lecture: Opening new frontiers in human origins
At a memorial for Richard Leakey, I shared some ideas about where technology and new discoveries will take paleoanthropology over the next decade.
![Conference slide logo for Africa: The Human Cradle](/content/images/size/w1460/2023/10/africa-human-cradle-opening-slide.jpg)
Why anthropologists rejected the aquatic ape theory
Human ancestors did not evolve in an aquatic environment. But they did make use of coastal and shoreline resources where they were abundant.
![A painting showing an ape and some kind of fish in water, with an ape-looking-Darwin-looking figure at lower right](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/09/aquatic-ape-theory-painting-1.jpg)
Kabwe: A famous fossil unearthed amid the human costs of mining
Mining led to the skull's discovery, destroyed its context, and left a century-long legacy of lead poisoning.
![The Kabwe skull viewed from the left side](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/06/kabwe-lateral-banner-crop.jpg)
Research highlight: Looking at what Darwin knew about primate relationships
I provide a context for Darwin's ideas about human and primate relationships and update Descent of Man with today's knowledge.
![Notebook page from Darwin showing his proposal of primate phylogeny](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/02/darwin-1868-primate-phylogeny-manuscript-rotated.jpg)
There are no “anatomically modern” elephants. Why do we treat humans differently?
A quote from Phillip Tobias illustrates the strange way that we talk about human variation compared to other species.
Denisovan traits bring up the old problem of understanding morphological continuity
A paper by Shara Bailey and coworkers suggests that three-rooted lower molars are diagnostic of population mixture from Denisovans.
![Fossil mandible from Xiahe, China, viewed from right side.](/content/images/size/w1460/2022/01/xiahe-mandible-wikimedia.jpg)
A mid-century observer wrote about hybridization and Neandertals
A quote from Loren Eiseley, one of the best known writers about anthropology and human origins.