Paleoanthropology

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Paleoanthropology


Paleoanthropology is an umbrella term for the diverse group of sciences contributing to the knowledge of human evolution, generally interpreted to include not only studies of extinct (and, in evolutionary contexts, living) humans and their exclusive ancestors and relatives, but also of the wider biological framework within which the hominid family exists. At the core of paleoanthropology are the paleontologists who study human fossils, and the archaeologists who investigate the behavioral record of ancient humans. They are complemented by paleoenvironmentalists, taphonomists, dating specialists, functional anatomists, paleodemographers, molecular geneticists, and a host of others who contribute to producing as well-rounded a picture as possible of the background from which humans emerged.


See also Evolution, Human; Paleontology

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