Continent of Hunter-Gatherers: New Perspectives in Australian Prehistory

by Harry Lourandos

Overview

This book challenges traditional perceptions of Australian Aboriginal prehistory: that environment is the major determinant of hunter-gatherers; that Aborigines were egalitarian and culturally homogeneous; that they experienced few economic and demographic changes. Lourandos argues that their social and economic processes were complex and that the prehistory period was dynamic. Lourandos considers colonization, Tasmanian Aborigines, the role of fire, the intensification debate, plant exploitation and other prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521359467
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/28/1997
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	412
Product dimensions:	7.52(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction: changing perspectives; 1. Hunter-gatherer variation in time and space; 2. Australian Aboriginal hunter-gatherers; 3. Out of Asia: earliest evidence and people; 4. The tropical north; 5. Arid and semiarid Australia; 6. Temperate southern Australia; 7. Tasmania; 8. Continental changes; 9. Interpretations; 10. Conclusions.

Editorial Reviews

"The organization of the vcolume has been carefully thought out, and the regional orientation generally works qiute well. The book is well illustrated, with numerous photographs, maps, and line drawings...Continent of Hunter-Gatherers is a compelling book of serous scholarship and deep thought...the book will undoubted have an impact on Austrailian archyaeology, and be a focus of heated discussion there for some time to come. The volume should also attract much interest from North American archaeologists." Candian Jrnl of Archaeology 24, 2000

From the Publisher