Table of Contents

1. An introduction to Prehistoric Archeology; 2. Prehistory as a multidisciplinary science; 3. Becoming human; 4. The emergence of Lower Paleolithic cultures; 5. The ascent of Paleolithic cultures; 6. Conquest: the final phases of the Stone Age; 7. The new world order following the Paleolithic; 8. Communication networking and the end of the Prehistoric Era; 9. Global warming: natural climatic trend or humanly induced phenomena? 10. Human distortions and alienation from nature; 11. Who are we? Ancient and modern human migrations; 12. On religion, war and terrorism in the globalized world; 13. The role of prehistory in understanding the modern human condition.

Promotional Information

Human prehistory is an effective tool for adopting an evolutionary perspective on present day and future challenges humans face.

About the Author

Deborah Barsky is a lithic specialist, archaeologist, and researcher at The Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution and assistant professor with the UOC (Universitat Obert de Catalunya) in the History and Art History Department at the Universitat Rovira I Virgili in Tarragona, Spain.  Engaged in research projects on archaeological sites throughout the world, she has published numerous works in books and scholarly journals.

Reviews

'Barsky's groundbreaking book is of enormous importance to researchers in a wide range of disciplines who are concerned with the impact of technology, for good and for ill, on human bio-cultural evolution. The book is a major contribution to our understanding of this evolution and its implications for the 'progressive divorce from nature' that our cultural and technological development has entailed.' Paul J. Thibault, professor in linguistics and communication studies, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

'Hitherto, not since Gordon Childe's Man Makes Himself (1951 (1936)) has a book on prehistory and archaeology highlighted its author's concerns about those contemporary environmental and societal concerns that colour debates over the forseeable future that upcoming generations will inherit. Those generations deserve this book.' M. Walker, Antiquity

'Human Prehistory: Exploring the Past to Understand the Future, is a testament to the fundamental importance of the past.' Brad Lepper, The Columbus Dispatch

'Deborah Barsky's book is a valiant, welcome attempt to stimulate the general public to take an interest in prehistory.' Michael J. Walker, Antiquity