106 Evolutionary Anthropology

BOOK REVIEWS

This is a fairly unified book, with in- close relatives were not hominoids, but The Fossil Record— dexes to major authors and taxa, as rather derived early catarrhines, predat- well as a consolidated bibliography, in ing the hominoid-cercopithecoid diver- and addition to subdivided lists of “pri- gence because they lack synapomor- mary references” at the end of each phies with the modern . Nonhuman chapter. Following a brief survey of Afropithecines and nyanzapithecines origins, mainly a review of are included in the Proconsulidae as The Primate Fossil Record models with passing mention of Plesi- thus conceived; these taxa are well Edited by W.C. Hartwig (2002) Cam- adapiformes and other archontans, characterized, but only in the “evolu- bridge: Cambridge University Press. 530 there are five major sections on pros- tion” section of the chapter. Dendro- pp. $175 (cloth); ISBN 0-521-66315-6. imians, anthropoid origins and platyr- pithecidae is defined to receive some rhines, “basal” catarrhines and Old but not all of the smaller conservative The Human Fossil Record, vol. 1. Terminology and Craniodental World monkeys, hominoids, and hu- catarrhines. Morotopithecus is Morphology of Genus Homo (Europe) man paleontology. Most of these have tentatively recognized as a hominoid By J.H. Schwartz and I. Tattersall (2002) an introductory chapter with special apparently predating the hylobatid- New York: Wiley-Liss. 388 pp. $125 reference to the historical emphasis hominid divergence on the basis of de- (cloth); ISBN 0-471-31927-9. that Hartwig desired, followed by rived features of one lumbar three to five solid chapters reviewing a and an uncertainly referred scapular Major reviews1 of the entire record of small geographic or taxonomic seg- glenoid fragment, combined with primate paleontology are few and far ment of the fossil record in semi-stan- craniodental and femoral morphology between. In fact, ironically, the three that would most readily have come to dardized format. This begins with a like that of proconsulids. Harrison hes- mind before 2002 were authored or ed- history of discovery and debate itantly rejects the alternative that Moro- ited either by this journal’s editor1 or (which readers might think too long topithecus is an afropithecine with a your humble reviewer.2,3 Two shorter compared to later sections), followed unique axial skeleton, convergent on texts4,5 are less detailed and not up to by taxonomic and morphological de- hominoids perhaps due to its large date. The situation is reversed for vol- tail, and concluding with a discussion mass. This taxon might be pivotal in umes concentrating on human paleon- of evolutionary patterns and interpre- understanding hominoid origins, espe- tology: The entire allotted space of this tations. The section fea- cially if its age is closer to 21 Ma instead review would be required to list the ma- tures a classification to the species of the faunally derived 15 Ma. However, jority of such works. Despite their level, then a review of each included if it predates the gibbon-great split rather similar titles, the books by genus with discussion of the type spe- it would still not refute the model of Hartwig and by Schwartz and Tattersall cies, and sometimes all others, pro- hominoid (or hominid) diversification 9,10 are in fact quite distinct, but both are ceeding from type specimen through outside of , followed by homi- welcome additions to the evolutionary age and geographic range to a variably nine reentry to Africa. anthropologist’s reference shelf. detailed anatomical definition or dis- In addition to refining that model, In his preface and introduction, cussion. There are no synonymies, Begun’s review of European homi- Hartwig specifically positions his an- and authorship often is not provided noids surveys , Oreo- thology as a successor to Szalay and for subgenera or suprageneric taxa. pithecus, and (generi- Delson’s book2 and as a technical This is in strong contrast to the unnec- cally separated from Graecopithecus) complement to works by Conroy,5 essary but uniform listing of type and extends into southwest Asia to Fleagle,1 and others such as Martin,6 specimen catalog numbers, which will discuss Griphopithecus and Ankara- which are less focused on paleoprima- be useful only to potential revisers, pithecus. Kelley examines the Asian tology. Hartwig’s volume includes who would have to go to the original hominoids, overlapping Begun’s dis- twenty-five chapters by thirty-one au- sources anyway. cussion of Griphopithecus but, sur- thors, few of which can be individu- Space prevents discussion of most prisingly, ignoring Ankarapithecus ally discussed here. Only three au- chapters here, but the section on homi- while concentrating on Sivapithecus thors contributed to more than one noids may be of greatest interest to this and Lufengpithecus. The last genus is chapter, always in different sections journal’s readers. Pilbeam introduces placed in a new pongine tribe, but I (Rasmussen on primate origins and the topic with an insightful review of am unconvinced, preferring to con- early catarrhines, Walker on lorisids prior studies, emphasizing some of the sider it, like Dryopithecus, a “stem and early Homo, and Begun on plio- diverse approaches and arguments hominid.” Although their fossils are pithecids and European hominoids). since his own last major analysis7 but rare, hylobatids are important both as avoiding or ignoring an even more in- a divergent hominoid and for fluential predecessor.8 Harrison surveys their reflection of conservative mor- late Oligocene to mid-Miocene ca- phology, yet neither Kelley nor any tarrhines, arriving at several important, other author discusses them. Ward Evolutionary Anthropology 12:106–108 (2003) if controversial, conclusions. He pre- and Duren return to Africa to survey DOI 10.1002/evan.10112 Published online in Wiley InterScience sents in detail his previously summa- the later Miocene taxa. They follow (www.interscience.wiley.com). rized argument that Proconsul and Andrews11,12 by including the afro- BOOK REVIEWS Evolutionary Anthropology 107 pithecines ( and Equa- pitfalls of using numerous characters (mid-Magdalenian). Why certain Late torius) and kenyapithecines (Keny- in a parsimony analysis. Begun specif- Upper Paleolithic moderns are in- apithecus) in , while leaving ically prefers one cladogram based on cluded and others ignored is never ad- , , and “informed choice,” while I worry also dressed. Maps showing all site loca- Orrorin of uncertain subfamily status. about the clarity and reproducibility tions follow drawings of the Generic diagnoses for the first three of character-state coding. More im- craniodental elements that label fea- are long and detailed, and the evolu- portant, however, is the question of tures discussed in the text. tionary discussion clear if too brief: whether readers should be left to draw Each sample is well illustrated, al- For example, Ward and Duren tanta- their own conclusions in a book like most always by monochrome photo- lizingly suggest that new fossils from this. I suggest that it is more valuable graphs taken by the senior author, al- may refute the “African re-en- for authors to present and argue for though a few by other photographers try” hypothesis. I was surprised at the their interpretations, even if some are used, and several digital images of lack of reciprocal referencing among may prove ephemeral. The reader can casts fill gaps that would otherwise these and other chapters. Ward and decide which are worthwhile only if exist. As this review was to be submit- Duren specifically refer to both Kelley alternatives are clearly presented. ted, the original Combe Capelle 1 and Harrison, without supporting or Hartwig wisely allowed authors to de- skull, described from such a cast, was refuting the latter. But all four of these termine their own taxonomies, rather rediscovered.15 The original photos chapters overlap significantly and than imposing a standard system, but are excellent, although the final qual- most authors appear to be unaware of he failed to follow through by encour- ity is reduced through less than supe- the others. That is a common problem aging clear diagrams and phyloge- rior publishing. The remains are de- in most collected volumes: If the edi- netic conclusions as well. scribed in moderate detail, beginning tor does not supervise interaction By contrast, the number of speci- with generalities about preservation among related chapters it will not men illustrations in this work is high. and the entire cranium, then proceed- happen, and the overall value of the Their quality is mixed, but usually is ing from the face over the vault to the book is reduced. good for both photographs and draw- base, several “endocranial compart- Another deficit of the volume is the ings although, in some cases, neither ments,” the mandible, and the denti- rarity of discussion of taxonomic en- sources nor permissions are obvious. tion. When numerous specimens are tities above the genus level. Subfami- On the other hand, maps showing site known from a site, one or more are lies, families, superfamilies, and even locations are entirely absent. Errors of used as reference standards and oth- ordinal-group taxa (even the few fact exist but are not rampant; no fin- ers briefly compared to them. The newly named ones) are not character- ger-pointing is required. Ours is a reader may be disappointed to find no ized or diagnosed except where some fast-moving field. Hartwig’s introduc- sign of two other expected sections: authors violate the imposed format, tion includes a list of all primate gen- there is no analytical synthesis and no either with generic discussions or in era accepted by this volume’s authors measurements are provided, the pho- their evolution sections. Such discus- in order of description, and already tographs being thought sufficient to sions are important summaries of there are at least a Pakistani ?cheiro- give “an adequate guide to size.” characters linking genera both taxo- galeid (Bugtilemur13), two new Afri- Schwartz and Tattersall argue that as nomically and evolutionarily. More- can cercopithecids (Kuseracolobus previous authors have not agreed on over, newly named taxa must be and Pliopapio14), and the presumed what metrical data to provide, or their clearly delineated in order to be hominins Ardipithecus, Kenyanthro- developmental or functional rele- “available” systematically. If this work pus, and Sahelanthropus. However, vance, they will offer none, preferring to is designed to be a reference source, given the fact that Australopithecus is concentrate on morphology alone. I can the editor should have required such not listed, perhaps hominins are ig- agree with the primacy of the latter, but discussions and convinced the pub- nored in this table. not the abandonment of the former. lisher of their value, despite the effect Schwartz and Tattersall do not have Even less acceptable is their rejection of on manuscript length. to worry about such ancient African interpretation. One would hope that On the other hand, Hartwig explic- taxa, as their book focuses squarely on these respected colleagues (and per- itly notes that he wants readers to de- the European segment of the human sonal friends), having spent years trav- velop their own ideas of primate phy- paleontology dataset. This book is the eling the globe in order to see each logeny based on the data presented. first of a planned quartet (at least) of specimen at first hand, would give us This may explain, but in my opinion volumes that will document the entire the benefit of their opinions on popula- does not justify, the rarity of phylog- record of . It begins tion affinities and variability, taxon- eny diagrams, whether cladograms or with a discussion of Schwartz and omy, phylogeny, and perhaps adapta- trees. Such diagrams rapidly summa- Tattersall’s very different but equally tion. They do promise a “systematic rize large amounts of text and help the standardized format. The focus of in- analysis of the genus Homo” in volume reader zero in on questions that an terest is the locality and the potential two, after further description of African author may develop nearby. In Be- population it yields; specimens are de- and Asian specimens. Volume three is gun’s chapter on European homi- scribed in alphabetical order by site scheduled to cover all “early hominids” noids, for example, three cladograms name. Sixty-one sites are included, al- with systematic conclusions. Yet, for of generic relationships differ widely phabetically from Abri Pataud to Za- the nonce, we are left like Frodo at the but are separated by only three steps farraya and chronologically from gates of Mordor,16 awaiting a guide to out of 480, emphasizing the potential Dmanisi (ca. 1.8 Ma) to Chancelade the dark regions within. 108 Evolutionary Anthropology MEETINGS OF INTEREST

REFERENCES mate biology, vol. 1. New York: Alan R. Liss, p 13 Marivaux L. 2001. A fossil lemur from the 361–411. Oligocene of Pakistan. Science 294:587–591. 8 Simons EL, Pilbeam. 1965. Preliminary revi- 14 Frost SR. 2001. New Early Pliocene Cerco- 1 Fleagle JG. 1999. Primate adaptation and evo- sion of the Dryopithecinae (, Anthro- pithecidae (Mammalia: ) from Aramis, lution, 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press. poidea). Folia Primatol 3:81–152. Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia. Am Museum No- 2 Szalay FS, Delson E. 1979. Evolutionary his- 9 Begun DR, Ward CV, Rose MD. 1997. Events vitates 3350:1–36. tory of the primates. New York: Academic Press. in hominoid evolution. In: Begun DR, Ward CV, 15 Hoffmann A, Wegner D. 2002. The rediscov- 3 Delson E, Tattersall I, Van Couvering JA, Rose MD, editors. Function, phylogeny, and fos- ery of the Combe-Capelle skull. J Hum Evol 43: Brooks AS, editors. 2000. Encyclopedia of hu- sils—Miocene hominoid evolution and adapta- 577–581. tions. New York: Plenum Press, p 389–416. man evolution and prehistory, 2nd ed. New York: 16 Tolkein JRR. 1954. The fellowship of the ring. Garland/Taylor & Francis. 10 Stewart CB, Disotell T. 1998. Primate evolu- London: Allen & Unwin. tion—in and out of Africa. Curr Biol 8:R582– 4 Simons EL. 1972. Primate evolution. New R588. York: Macmillan. Eric Delson 11 Andrews P. 1992. Evolution and environment 5 Conroy GC. 1990. Primate evolution. New Department of Anthropology in the Hominoidea. Nature 360:641–647. York: W. W. Norton. Lehman College and the Graduate School 12 Andrews P, Harrison T, Delson E, Martin L, 6 Martin RD. 1990. Primate origins and evolu- City University of New York Bernor RL. 1996. Systematics and biochronology Department of Vertebrate Paleontology tion. Princeton: Princeton University Press. of European and southwest Asian Miocene ca- 7 Kelley J, Pilbeam DR. 1986. The dryo- tarrhines. In: Bernor RL, Fahlbusch V, Mittmann American Museum of Natural History pithecines: taxonomy, comparative anatomy, H, editors. Evolution of western Eurasian Late New York, NY 10024 and phylogeny of Miocene large hominoids. In: Neogene faunas. New York: Columbia E-mail: [email protected] Swindler DR, Erwin J, editors. Comparative pri- University Press, p 168–207. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MEETINGS OF INTEREST

May 22–24, 2003 Florence, Italy Desert Research Institute International Anthropological Congress: 2215 Raggio Parkway The conference will focus on the Anthropology and Society Reno, NV 89512 USA global impact of human overpopulation. Memorial Congress to the 60th anni- Contact: Bruno Chiarelli Email: [email protected] versary of death of Dr. Ales Hrdlicka Dept. of Biology and Genetics Website: http://www.dri.edu/DEES/ Praha-Humpolec, Czech Republic University of Florence INQUA2003/inqua_home.htm Contact address: email: secretariat@icaes-florence2003. September 18–20, 2003 Charles University in Prague, Faculty com of Science website: www.icaes-florence2003.com Evolutionary Changes in the Craniofa- Department of Anthropology and cial Morphology of Primates Human Genetics July 14–18, 2003 Institute of Anatomy, Ernst Moritz Arndt Vinicna 7, 128 44 Prague 2 XVth International Conference of Ethio- University, Greifswald, Germany. Czech Republic pian Studies To commemorate the life of Richard Phone: ϩ420 221 951 611 Hamburg, Germany N. Wegner, a conference on primate Fax: ϩ420 221 951 619 The Conference will focus on the hu- craniofacial morphology will be held June 22–28, 2003 manities, with several sessions devoted in the Institute of Anatomy. V Congress of the International Associa- to various aspects of archaeology, his- Topics of papers include: tion for the Study of Human Paleontology tory, religion, languages, literature, Functional morphology Barcelona-Sitges (Spain) arts, anthropology and social sciences Pneumatiziation Sponsored by the United Nations Edu- (including law and politics). Growth & Development cational, Scientific, and Cultural Organi- Ethiopian studies: ICES office Dentition zation and the Universitat de Barcelona Hamburg University Primate collections The conference will focus on all top- Asia-Africa Institute Contact: Thomas Koppe ics of human evolution. Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 Institute of Anatomy Excursions: Arago Cave, Altamira - D-20146 Hamburg Ernst Moritz Arndt University North Spain and a visit to the new Germany Friedrich-Loeffler-Strasse 23c museum and replica of the Altamira Fax: ϩ49-40-42838-5675 D-17489 Greifswald, Germany Cave, Atapuerca - Burgos, Granada E-mail: [email protected] email: [email protected] & Murcia. Web site: www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/ website: http://www.dur.ac.uk/t.c.rae/ Reunions i Ciencia S.L. ICES2003 CT/Wegner/ c\ Calabria 273-275, entlo. 1a, 08029 Barcelona (Spain) July 23–31, 2003 November 19–23, 2003 Phone: (34) 934 108 646 The XVIth International Union for Quater- 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Fax: (34) 934 303 263 nary Research Congress Anthropological Association [email protected] Reno Hilton Resort & Conference Cen- Chicago Hilton and Towers, Chicago, IL Website: http://www.farmanews.com/ ter Reno, Nevada iashp2003/pro1.htm Contact: AAA The Congress will host multiple sym- 4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 640, July 5–12, 2003 posia on various topics of Quater- Arlington, VA 22203-1620 XVth International Union of Anthropo- nary Research. phone: 703/528-1902 logical and Ethnological Sciences Contact: fax: 703/528-3546 Humankind/Nature Interaction: Past, Ms. M. Jones Website: http://www.aaanet.org/mtgs/ Present and Future Division of Hydrologic Sciences mtgs.htm