Adventures in the Bone Trade: The Race to Discover Human Ancestors in Ethiopia’s Afar Depression - Hardcover

Kalb, Jon

  • 3.83 out of 5 stars
    24 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780387987422: Adventures in the Bone Trade: The Race to Discover Human Ancestors in Ethiopia’s Afar Depression
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0387987428 ISBN 13: 9780387987422
Publisher: Copernicus, 2000

Synopsis

Over the past 25 years, a stream of fossil and artifact discoveries in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia has produced the longest single record of human ancestors in the world. Many of the fossils found in this region are the missing links leading to modern humans. This book chronicles the exploration of this unique desert area, focusing especially on the 1970s when the valley was mapped and many fossils and archeological sites were discovered. The author gives his personal account of the 25 years he spent researching the region.
As co-founder of the team that discovered Lucy, Jon Kalb has first-hand knowledge of the research that was involved in the findings of this region and of the intense rivalry that has accompanied those findings. He discusses the political drama of Ethiopia and the effects this chaos had on the Afar. This book covers the scientific discoveries of the area, the author's own explorations and findings, and the political struggles involved with these discoveries.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Jon E. Kalb is a Research Scientist Fellow in the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory at the University of Texas in Austin. Trained as a geologist, Kalb has conducted research in geology, paleontology and archaeology, and he has done fieldwork not only in Africa, but also in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. He has studied the Afar Depression for almost 30 years, more than seven of those spent living and working in Ethiopia.

Reviews

Alongside the story of the [Afar] region's paleohistory...Kalb sets a less pretty tale of the jealousies among the bone hunters he knew and worked with.

Kalb tells the story of his work, the scientific infighting, and the political turmoil in Ethiopia during his years there with verve and thoroughness.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Copernicus
Publication date
2000
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0387987428
ISBN 13 
9780387987422
Binding
Hardcover
Number of pages
404
Rating
  • 3.83 out of 5 stars
    24 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781475788211: Adventures in the Bone Trade: The Race to Discover Human Ancestors in Ethiopia’s Afar Depression

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1475788215 ISBN 13:  9781475788211
Publisher: Copernicus, 2013
Softcover