Title: Breathing life into fossils : taphonomic studies in honor of C.K. (Bob) Brain /
Authors: Brain, C. K.; Pickering, Travis Rayne.; Schick, Kathy Diane.; Toth, Nicholas Patrick.; Stone Age Institute.
Publisher: Stone Age Institute Press,
Year: 2007
Subjects: Taphonomy Congresses.; Fossils Congresses.; Fossils Africa Congresses.; Animals, Fossil Congresses.; Africa Antiquities Congresses.
Abstract: "Taphonomy, the study of the processes leading to the fossilization of organic remains, is one of the most important avenues of inquiry in human origins research. Breathing Life into Fossils is a major contribution to taphonomic studies in paleoanthropology and natural history. This book emanates from a Stone Age Institute conference celebrating the life and career of naturalist Bob Brain, a pioneer in bringing taphonomic perspectives to human evolutionary studies. Contributions by leading researchers provide a state-of-the art look at the maturing field of taphonomy and the unique perspectives it provides to research into human origins. This important volume reveals approaches taken to the study of bone accumulations at prehistoric sites in Africa, Eurasia, and America, and provides fascinating insights into patterns produced by carnivores, by hunter-gatherers, and by our human ancestors."--Jacket.
Contents: Fifty years of fun with fossils : some cave taphonomy-related ideas and concepts that emerged between 1953 and 2003 / C.K. Brain -- Rather odd detective stories : a view of some actualistic and taphonomic trends in Paleoindian studies / Gary Haynes -- The destruction of skeletal elements by carnivores : the growth of a general model for skeletal element destruction and survival in zooarchaeological assemblages / Naomi Cleghorn and Curtis W. Marean -- Hominids and carnivores at Kromdraai and other Quaternary sites in southern Africa / J. Francis Thackeray -- Taphonomic analysis of an excavated striped hyena den from the eastern desert of Jordan / Kathy Schick [and others] -- Taphonomy and site formation of two early Miocene sites on Rusinga Island, Kenya / Alan Walker -- Are you in or out (of Africa)? : site formation at Dmanisi and actualistic studies in Africa / Martha Tappen [and others] --^