Record Nr.

UNINA9910790074803321

Autore

Barnard Alan (Alan J.)

Titolo

Social anthropology and human origins / / Alan Barnard [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa


Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2011

ISBN


1-107-21739-3
1-139-06294-8
1-283-11086-5
9786613110862
1-139-07514-4
0-511-97450-7
1-139-07740-6
1-139-07969-7
1-139-06937-3
1-139-08196-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xiii, 182 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Disciplina

301

Soggetti

Human beings - Origin

Human evolution

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

If chimps could talk -- Fossils and what they tell us -- Group size and settlement -- Teaching, sharing and exchange -- Origins of language and symbolism -- Elementary structures of kinship -- A new synthesis.

Sommario/riassunto

The study of human origins is one of the most fascinating branches of anthropology. Yet it has rarely been considered by social or cultural anthropologists, who represent the largest subfield of the discipline. In this powerful study Alan Barnard aims to bridge this gap. Barnard argues that social anthropological theory has much to contribute to our understanding of human evolution, including changes in technology, subsistence and exchange, family and kinship, as well as to the study of language, art, ritual and belief. This book places social anthropology in the context of a widely-conceived constellation of anthropological

sciences. It incorporates recent findings in many fields, including primate studies, archaeology, linguistics and human genetics. In clear, accessible style Barnard addresses the fundamental questions surrounding the evolution of human society and the prehistory of culture, suggesting a new direction for social anthropology that will open up debate across the discipline as a whole.