New member looking for advice

[Cat]

Hi all!

I have been reading some of the messages and it seems that a lot of the members here are from pure archaeology backgrounds. I have a BSc degree in Anthropology but have decided to go down the palaeoanthropology / archaeology route and will be studying Archaeology of Human Origins at Southampton University from October.

Can anyone advise on anything I can be doing over the summer to ensure I'm not going to be a bit out of my depth when I start my MSc? Can I volunteer to work on digs, or at a museum? Are there any essential books I should have a look at? Is there any chance of finding a paid summer job fairly local to Southampton that would be relevant?

Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers in advance :-)

[beamo]

Books - anything by Clive Gamble if you are going to study at Southampton, as he was the main man there until recently. Also check out the Boxgrove report(s), including Fairweather Eden (Roberts and Pitts).


Beamo

[Cat]

Many thanks for your help. I've already got In Search of the Neanderthals by Stringer and Gamble, and I'll have a look for the other titles you suggested.

Did you study at Southampton?

[the invisible man]

A very good new introduction to human evolution and very old stuff (sorry) is The Complete World of Human Evolution. Stringer and Andrews again, 2005, Thames and Hudson. ISBN.13: 978.0.500.05132.0 and ISBN.10: 0.500.053132.1 (don't know why there are two ISBN nos., maybe one is paperback).

There is also From Lucy to Language which is full of detailed photos. By Donald Johanson, 1996. Weidenfield and Son. ISBN 0 297 833286.

A little less readable but still ok is Humankind Emerging, Campbell and Loy 8th Ed. 2000, Pearson (Mi USA). ISBN 0-321-02274-2.

What might bridge the gap quite nicely for you is Introduction to Physical Anthropology, 10th Ed. Jurmain et al. 2005. Wadsworth (Ca USA). ISBN 0-534-63902-X.


We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[deepdigger]

Klein's "Human Career" got me through the anthropology modules!

deep

[Cat]

Thanks very much for the help!