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.

2 Jan 2019

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A critical look at the idea of Australopithecus prometheus

A historical perspective on a species name that was associated with fossils from Makapansgat, South Africa.

1 Jan 2018

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The real problem with a lack of data access is that 50 years of the fossil record is invisible to many students in the field.

28 Dec 2017

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For nearly forty years between the Piltdown discovery and exposure as a deliberate hoax, many scientists never believed the story.

28 Nov 2015

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A holiday greeting with a special image of the family of fossil hominins.

1 Nov 2014

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The earliest form of data dissemination was the distribution of high fidelity copies of fossils.

2 Apr 2014

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A perspective article by Bernard Wood reviews the history of Homo habilis and suggests that the species should go its own way.

6 May 2010

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Publication of the first draft of a Neandertal genome reveals that these ancient humans are among the ancestors of people living today.

4 Jan 2010

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Bringing some scientific reality to an excerpt from a book that tries to revive the myth of an ancient, large-brained race of humans.

30 Mar 2008

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A book tries to revive the myth of a large-brained ancient race in southern Africa. It was wrong in 1958 and remains wrong today.

26 Mar 2005

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A detailed post on a taxonomic proposal, with consideration of the idea that humans and our fossil relatives should be hominins instead of hominids.