Man the Hunted

This book presents a provocative view of human evolution that contends early humans occupied a far more vulnerable position in the food chain than we like to imagine. "Man the Hunted" argues that primates, including the earliest members of the human family, have evolved as the prey of any number of [...]
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This book presents a provocative view of human evolution that contends early humans occupied a far more vulnerable position in the food chain than we like to imagine. "Man the Hunted" argues that primates, including the earliest members of the human family, have evolved as the prey of any number of predators, including wild cats and dogs, hyenas, snakes, crocodiles, and even birds. The authors' studies of predators on monkeys and apes are supplemented here with the observations of naturalists in the field and revealing interpretations of the fossil record. Eyewitness accounts of the 'man the hunted' drama being played out even now give vivid evidence of its prehistoric significance.This provocative view of human evolution suggests that countless adaptations that have allowed our species to survive - from larger brains to speech - stem from a considerably more vulnerable position on the food chain than we might like to imagine.The myth of early humans as fearless hunters dominating the earth obscures our origins as just one of many species that had to be cautious, depend on other group members, communicate danger, and come to terms with being merely one cog in the complex cycle of life.New to the expanded edition is a chapter describing the ever-increasing evidence of predation on humans and other primates. The chapter promises to be controversial in its claim that the earliest humans were neither hunters nor even the accomplished scavengers that many authorities have claimed. Skilfully analyzing diverse evidence, "Man the Hunted" casts an entirely new light on the natural history of primates and the evolution of modern humans.This is not a core text. It is a lively, engaging, and provocative book that will supplement the more staid, mainstream textbooks in human evolution. This book is most directly useful in Human Evolution (and Evolution of Man and Culture) courses, which are a subset of the larger field of Physical Anthropology.