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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–2Cite as

Paleoanthropology

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Synonyms

Human paleontology

Definition

The study and interpretation of the fossil record of humans.

Introduction

Paleoanthropology is a subdiscipline within physical/biological anthropology that is devoted to the study and interpretation of the human fossil record. The fossil record includes not only the skeletal remains of human ancestors but other vestiges like fossilized footprints, endocasts (the natural or recreated casts of the brain), and stone tools or other artifacts. In the last decade, the study of ancient DNA (aDNA) has also progressed to become a significant contributor to paleoanthropological work.

Paleoanthropology

One of the primary goals of research in paleoanthropology is the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships, known as phylogenies, to better understand the relationships of various ancestor and descendant species throughout prehistory. This work has traditionally been accomplished through the study of various anatomical details found on the fossils...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Arthur C. Durband

Authors
  1. Arthur C. Durband
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arthur C. Durband .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland Univ Dept of Psycholgy, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana Weekes-Shackelford

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  3. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Durband, A.C. (2016). Paleoanthropology. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1840-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1840-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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