Miocene Paleosols and Ape Habitats of Pakistan and Kenya

Miocene Paleosols and Ape Habitats of Pakistan and Kenya PDF Author: Greg John Retallack
Publisher: New York : Oxford University Press ; Oxford [England] : Clarendon Press
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
In this book, the habitats of our apelike ancestors of the Miocene epoch -- some 7 to 20 million years ago -- are re-examined from the perspective of knowledge yielded by the buried fossil soils in which they have been found. Fossilized soils, or paleosols, are distinctive layers within a sedimentary or volcanic sequence, and they also can be clues to former ecosystems and other aspects of paleoenvironments. Here the author characterizes in detail some 20 kinds of paleosols from the Kenyan and Pakistani localities for the dryopithicane and ramapithicine apes made famous by L.S.B. Leakey and D.R. Pilbeam. The extensive evidence cited allows for the reassessment of vegetation and landscape features of ancient tropical sites that are the source of much of what is known about our remote Miocene ancestors. The text also provides a basis for understanding paleosols formed in all tropical climates and alluvial settings, and offers a model for future research on human evolution and major events in the geological history of soils. It is a valuable resource for paleontologists, anthropologists, and soil scientists.

Miocene Paleosols and Ape Habitats of Pakistan and Kenya

Miocene Paleosols and Ape Habitats of Pakistan and Kenya PDF Author: Greg John Retallack
Publisher: New York : Oxford University Press ; Oxford [England] : Clarendon Press
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 360

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this book, the habitats of our apelike ancestors of the Miocene epoch -- some 7 to 20 million years ago -- are re-examined from the perspective of knowledge yielded by the buried fossil soils in which they have been found. Fossilized soils, or paleosols, are distinctive layers within a sedimentary or volcanic sequence, and they also can be clues to former ecosystems and other aspects of paleoenvironments. Here the author characterizes in detail some 20 kinds of paleosols from the Kenyan and Pakistani localities for the dryopithicane and ramapithicine apes made famous by L.S.B. Leakey and D.R. Pilbeam. The extensive evidence cited allows for the reassessment of vegetation and landscape features of ancient tropical sites that are the source of much of what is known about our remote Miocene ancestors. The text also provides a basis for understanding paleosols formed in all tropical climates and alluvial settings, and offers a model for future research on human evolution and major events in the geological history of soils. It is a valuable resource for paleontologists, anthropologists, and soil scientists.

Handbook of Paleoanthropology

Handbook of Paleoanthropology PDF Author: Winfried Henke
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540324747
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2057

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Book Description
This 3-volume handbook brings together contributions by the world ́s leading specialists that reflect the broad spectrum of modern palaeoanthropology, thus presenting an indispensable resource for professionals and students alike. Vol. 1 reviews principles, methods, and approaches, recounting recent advances and state-of-the-art knowledge in phylogenetic analysis, palaeoecology and evolutionary theory and philosophy. Vol. 2 examines primate origins, evolution, behaviour, and adaptive variety, emphasizing integration of fossil data with contemporary knowledge of the behaviour and ecology of living primates in natural environments. Vol. 3 deals with fossil and molecular evidence for the evolution of Homo sapiens and its fossil relatives.

An Ape's view of Human Evolution

An Ape's view of Human Evolution PDF Author: Peter Andrews
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107100674
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 331

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Book Description
This book brings together ecology, evolution, genetics, anatomy and geology to provide a new perspective on human evolution from the apes' viewpoint.

Function, Phylogeny, and Fossils

Function, Phylogeny, and Fossils PDF Author: David R. Begun
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1489900756
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 430

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Book Description
An insightful new work, Function, Phylogeny, and Fossils integrates two practices in paleobiology which are often separated - functional and phylogenetic analysis. The book summarizes the evidence on paleoenvironments at the most important Miocene hominoid sites and relates it to the pertinent fossil record. The contributors present the most up-to-date statements on the functional anatomy and likely behavior of the best known hominoids of this crucial period of ape and human evolution. A key feature is a comprehensive table listing 240 characteristics among 13 genera of living and extinct hominoids.

Soils in Archaeological Research

Soils in Archaeological Research PDF Author: Vance T. Holliday
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195348818
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 465

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Book Description
Soils, invaluable indicators of the nature and history of the physical and human landscape, have strongly influenced the cultural record left to archaeologists. Not only are they primary reservoirs for artifacts, they often encase entire sites. And soil-forming processes in themselves are an important component of site formation, influencing which artifacts, features, and environmental indicators (floral, faunal, and geological) will be destroyed and to what extent and which will be preserved and how well. In this book, Holliday will address each of these issues in terms of fundamentals as well as in field case histories from all over the world. The focus will be on principles of soil geomorphology , soil stratigraphy, and soil chemistry and their applications in archaeological research.

Soils of the Past

Soils of the Past PDF Author: Gregory J. Retallack
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470698160
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 419

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Book Description
It has been 10 years since publication of the first edition ofSoils of the Past. In that time the subject of paleopedology hasgrown rapidly, and established itself within the mainstream ofgeological research. Ancient soils contain vital mineralogical, geochemical,textural, and paleontological information about the continentalenvironments in which they formed. Advances in isotope geochemistryand sequence-stratigraphic models allow more detailedreconstructions of environmental change from paleosols and newinsights into diverse topics like atmospheric chemistry, globalchange, palaeoecology, geobiology and mass extinction. This fully updated second edition of soils of the past givesdescribes the main types of ancient soil, procedures for theirrecognition and study, their classification and, mostsignificantly, a wide array of examples of how paleosols have beenused for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Soils of the Past is written for advanced undergraduatesstudying paleopedology as part of a degree in geology,environmental science, or physical geography, and for interestedprofessional earth scientists. In the last few years however palaeopedology has become anestablished discipline in its own right, so the time is ripe for anew edition. This new book will be a good reflection of the currentstate of knowledge and be widely adopted. First edition was very well received and sold over 1500 copieswhen the subject was relatively new. The field has now grownenormously and the second edition should do considerablybetter. The new edition covers new developments in the field such as:Soils and Climate, stable isotope analysis of soils, soils andsequence stratigraphy. This edition represents the only available overview of thesubject at this level.

Hominid Adaptations and Extinctions

Hominid Adaptations and Extinctions PDF Author: David W. Cameron
Publisher: UNSW Press
ISBN: 9780868407166
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 276

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Book Description
Looking at a period of history 22 to 2.5 million years ago, this title examines the record of the Neogene fossil apes: their adaptive trends, their morphologies and their relationships to the environment, their evolution and their extinctions, to provideinsights into the evolution of our most distant and our most immediate fossil ancestors.

Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat Syntaxis and the Western Himalaya

Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat Syntaxis and the Western Himalaya PDF Author: Geological Society of London
Publisher: Geological Society of London
ISBN: 9781862390614
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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Book Description


Human Origins and Environmental Backgrounds

Human Origins and Environmental Backgrounds PDF Author: Hidemi Ishida
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387297987
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 284

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Book Description
Advances in fossil studies relating to the origin of Homo sapiens have strengthened the hypothesis that our direct ancestors originated on the African continent. Most researchers also agree that the time when prehumans diverged from the last common ancestor was in the early part of the Late Miocene epoch. Focus must now shift from determining the times and places of hominid origins to clarifying hominid evolutionary problems, such as the selective factors and acquisition processes of hominid bipedalism. In March of 2003, researchers from Africa, Europe, Japan and the United States convened in Kyoto for a symposium on Human Origins and Environmental Backgrounds, an interdisciplinary effort to consider these evolutionary puzzles, to report current research and to exchange thoughts towards better understanding the relationship among environmental changes, adaptive mechanisms and human origins. This book is the result of that symposium, and includes a diverse and unique set of papers on topics such as hominid evolution, dispersal and morphology, and the origins of bipedalism.

Fossil Mammals of Asia

Fossil Mammals of Asia PDF Author: Xiaoming Wang
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 0231150121
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 760

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Book Description
"This book is on the emergence of mammals in Asia, based largely on new fossil finds throughout Asia and cutting-edge biostratigraphic and geochemical methods of dating the fossils and their geological substrate"--Provided by publisher.