Title: Shaping humanity : how science, art, and imagination help us understand our origins /
Authors: Gurche, John,
Year: 2013
Subjects: Fossil hominids; Human beings Origin; Human evolution.; Hominidae; Anatomy, Artistic; Biological Evolution; Fossils
Abstract: What did earlier humans really look like? What was life like for them, millions of years ago? How do we know? In this book, internationally renowned paleo-artist John Gurche describes the extraordinary process by which he creates forensically accurate and hauntingly realistic representations of our ancient humans ancestors. Inspired by a lifelong fascination with all things pre-historic and gifted with a unique artistic vision, Gurche has studied fossil remains, comparative ape and human anatomy and forensic reconstruction for over three decades. His artworks appear in world class museums and publications ranging from National Geographic to the journal Science, and he is widely known for his contributions to Steven Speilberg's Jurassic Park and a number of acclaimed television specials. For the Smithsonian Institution's groundbreaking David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, opened in 2010, Gurche created fifteen sculptures representing six million years of human history.
Contents: Beginnings : Sahelanthropus tchadensis (6 to 7 million years ago) -- Walkers and climbers : Australopithecus afarensis (3.6 to 2.9 million years ago) -- The impossible discovery : Australopithecus africanus (3.3 to 2. 1 million years ago) -- The paradoxical specialist : Paranthropus boisei (2.3. to 1.0 million years ago) -- Interlude: Transitional hominins and the origin of Homo -- The traveler : Homo erectus (1.8 to 0.1 million years ago) -- A symbolic animal : Homo heidelbergensis (0.7 to 0.2 million years ago) -- The other : Homo neanderthalensis (0.25 to 0.027 million years ago) -- The unlikely survivor : Homo floresiensis (0.095 to 0.017 million years ago) -- Linked : Homo sapiens (0.2 million years ago -- ?) -- Endings.