Adam's Ancestors: The Evolution of Man and His Culture

by Louis Leakey

A complete and up-to-date text to cover relevant materials from Palaeolithic archaeology and paleoanthropology in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This work also contains an exceptionally penetrating discussion, based on the author's first-hand observations and experiments, of the interpretation and uses of stone and bone tools. Louis Leakey has produced a clean and well organized synthesis of the data bearing on the origin and evolution of Man and his culture in the Old World. Index & Bibliography.

Genres: History, Science

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1980

About the author

Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey was a British archaeologist and naturalist whose work was important in establishing human evolutionary development in Africa. He also played a major role in creating organizations for future research in Africa and for protecting wildlife there. Having been a prime mover in establishing a tradition of palaeoanthropological inquiry, he was able to motivate the next generation to continue it, notably within his own family, many of whom also became prominent. Leakey participated in national events of British East Africa and Kenya during the 1950s.

Louis Leakey was married to Mary Leakey, who made the noteworthy discovery of fossil footprints at Laetoli. Found preserved in volcanic ash in Tanzania, they are the earliest record of bipedal gait. He is also the father of paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and the botanist Colin Leakey.

Reviews

[Diana Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the early science classics - should be a must read.