Society in Prehistory: The Origins of Human Culture / Edition 1

by Tim Megarry

Overview

Reveals a profound understanding of evolutionary biology, and an excellent up-to-date knowledge of human evolution studies. It is not only very well done, but...it is written from a novel point of view. It needs to be very widely read and I hope that it will be. Megarry is doing his subject a great service.
—Bernard Campbell University of California
Social scientists have tended to neglect prehistory in their approach to human societies. Tim Megarry's lucid and authoritative book remedies this neglect. It will be of great value to students of anthropology, psychology, and sociology.
—Paul HirstBirkbeck College, University of London
Stressing the importance of culture as a formative agent in the evolutionary emergence of modern humans, Society in Prehistory provides an impressive, interdisciplinary, and deeply informed survey of prehistory. Individual chapters focus on culture and evolution; biology and culture; primate societies; the first hominids; tools and culture; the economics of foraging; modern humans and human behavior; sex and the division of labor; and sexuality and social life. The book reveals that, while social behavior is biologically grounded, it is not biologically determined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814755389
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	12/01/1995
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.18(d)

About the Author

Tim Megarry teaches in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Greenwich, London.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Prehistory and Society Evolution and Human Society.- Culture and Evolution.- Biology and Culture.- Primate Societies.- The First Hominids Tools and Culture Tools, Brains and Behaviour.- A Foraging Economy Man the Hunter?.- Modern Humans and Human Behaviour.- Sex and the Division of Labour.- Sexuality and Social Life.- Glossary.- Further Reading.- Bibliography.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Social scientists have tended to neglect prehistory in their approach to human societies. Tim Megarry's lucid and authoritative book remedies this neglect. It examines the interaction of the formation of human societies and biological evolution, and offers an excellent account of the revolution in our understanding of human origins in recent decades. It will be of great value to students of anthropology, psychology and sociology.' - Paul Hirst, Professor of Social Theory, Birkbeck College, University of London

'I am very impressed. It is not only very well done, but coming from someone with a background in sociology, it is written from a novel point of view. It shows a profound understanding of evolutionary biology and an excellent, up-to-date knowledge of human evolution studies. It needs to be very widely read and I hope that it will be. The author is doing his subject a great service.' - Bernard Campbell, Professor of Anthropology, University of California

Editorial Reviews

An interdisciplinary survey of prehistory, drawing on findings in archaeology, primate studies, genetics, paleontology, and anthropology, and stressing the importance of culture as a formative agent in the evolutionary emergence of modern humans. Contains chapters on culture and evolution; primate societies; the first hominids; tools and culture; the economics of foraging; modern humans and human behavior; sex and the division of labor; and sexuality and social life. For students and general readers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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