122 BOOK REVIEWS Although Gray’s coverage of primate socio- here. Moreover, they are discussed with con- biology is impressive, it is not exhaustive. In siderable accuracy. Primate Sociobiology also general, the papers cited in this volume are contains a very comprehensive review of so- those that explicitly mention sociobiological ciobiological analyses of the behavior of con- predictions. Given the wide-ranging scope of temporary humans. Gray has done us a his efforts, this was probably a necessary con- considerable service by compiling studies straint. However, it is sometimes unfortu- published in anthropology, psychology, and nate because relevant studies that were sociology. conducted within different theoretical frame- Gray’s book is a valuable resource for pri- works are thereby neglected. A more thor- matologists. My copy is already well- ough and insightful analysis of the factors thumbed, annotated, and frequently con- that influence maternal investment pat- sulted. The empirical data provided here pro- terns, for example, would draw more exten- vide ample ammunition for new skirmishes sively upon the detailed studies of mother- between supporters and opponents of socio- infant relationships conducted by Robert biology. With Gray’s book, there is reason to Hinde, Leonard Rosenblum, Carol Berman, hope, however, that the issues will become and many others. However, in other areas more substantive, and the debates will be- this problem does not arise. For example, come more productive. most studies of the relationship between fe- male dominance rank and reproductive suc- JOANB. SILK cess were conducted with sociobiological Department of Anthropology questions in mind, and all of the relevant Emory University studies of which I am aware are reviewed Atlanta, Georgia PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY AND PALAEOLITHIC erly credits the redating of Yuanmou, with ARCHAEOLOGYIN THE PEOPLESREPUBLIC implications that are important because 1) OF CHINA.Edited by Wu Rukang and John the incisors from the site are the earliest W. Olsen. Orlando: Academic Press. 1985. known from China and the redating halves xxvii + 293 pp., figures, tables, index. their age, and 2) other faunal dates such as $54.00 (cloth). those of the Gigantopithecus caves in south China depend on the Yuanmou age. As with other chapters in this volume, it is critical to A combination of broad coverage and excel- read the text as well as the tables to reach a lent translation makes this one of the most full understanding of what is being pre- useful compilations of Chinese paleoanthro- sented. Dates presented for Zhoukoudian and pology and Paleolithic archaeology ever pub- Xujiayao are also absolutely critical as con- lished. By covering a number of recent text for understanding human evolution in discoveries and developing ideas about hu- China. man evolution in China as seen through the Following these introductory chapters eyes of the top scholars in the People’s Re- there are two reviews of the thick enameled public, the sources for so many ideas that hominoids by Wu Rukang and Xu Qinghua have come into the Western literature by and by Zhang Yinyun. The former deals with various means can now be properly credited. the fossil apes from Lufeng, Ramapithecus The “Paleoanthropology” section (perhaps and Sivapithecus, which are regarded as more properly a “biological anthropology” either two sexes or two closely related spe- section since Paleolithic archaeology is often cies. The latter reviews the relation of early included within paleoanthropology) begins and late Gigantopithecus remains and attri- with a review of paleoanthropological (broad butes the so-called A ustralopithecus speci- meaning) research in China by Wu Rukang mens to an early form of Homo erectus. The and Lin Shenglong, including an extraordi- remains of Homo erectus discovered since lib- narily useful bibliography. This chapter is eration are briefly discussed by Wu Rukang followed by a brief review of chronology, as it and Dong Xingren and include some (but not is currently understood, by Wu Xinzhi and enough) commentary on the Hexian vault Wang Linghong. This review includes the and an unfortunately weak description of latest radiometric determinations and prop- dental remains from Longgudong and Bai- BOOK REVIEWS 123 longdong. Only Longgudong is published in mou, which makes it younger than the Lower any detail elsewhere in the Chinese litera- Pleistocene materials from Xihoudu. Zhang ture, leaving aspects of dental evolution in Senshui, who like Jia has extensive experi- China unknown in the West. ence at many of the archaeological sites, pre- Early (archaic) Homo sapiens is discussed sents a long and very useful chapter on the in a chapter by Wu Xinzhi and Wu Maolin, early Paleolithic. Chapters on the middle while more recent remains are covered by (Qiu Zhonglang) and late (Jia Lanpo and Wu Xinzhi and Zhang Zhenbiao. The archaic Huang Weiwen) Paleolithic tend to be pri- remains are seen as precursors for the living marily descriptive and site oriented, al- and recent Chinese populations (see, espe- though like all the chapters in this cially, the discussion of Dali), and as distinct compilation they include more discussion and from early Homo sapiens in other areas of interpretation than is usual in that part of the world, thus carrying on Weidenreich’s the Chinese scientific literature available in traditional interpretation of human evolu- English. More specialized chapters describe tion in the Far East. Moreover, the virtually microlithic industries (Gai Pei), the Paleo- complete skeleton from Yingkou, discovered pithic of Inner Mongolia (Wang Yuping and after the Wu and Wu chapter was written, J.W. Olsen), and the mammalian faunas of adds even more fuel to the regional continu- China (Han Defen and Xu Chunhua). Fi- ity argument. nally, Jia Lanpo and Huang Weiwen place The more recent remains (a sample now the understanding of China’s Paleolithic in a much larger than the Zhoukoudian Upper historic context. Cave materials) are shown to fit this scheme This book is an absolute must for anybody far better than Weidenreich thought. More- interested in the course of human evolution over, evolutionary trends within the large in East Asia. Indeed, given some of the re- Neolithic samples are shown, and it is clear cent publications asserting that Chinese that research in all aspects of human evolu- Homo erectus has nothing to do with the evo- tion is proceeding at the fastest rate one could lution of later humans and the use of these expect when the number of times the same publications by geneticists claiming to show name appears on different papers (an indica- a recent replacement of all human popula- tor of the small number of Chinese paleoan- tions by a very small population from Africa, thropologists) is taken into account. this book could well be required reading for The second half of the book, almost exactly everybody interested in the origins of mod- half by page count, reviews the progress and ern populations. The East Asian fossil evi- prospects for Paleolithic archaeology in dence should be understood, and the un- China. The authors, perhaps less familiar to interpreted opinions of our Chinese col- the readers of this journal, also occupy the leagues at the IVPP read first hand, so that fourth floor of the IVPP in Beijing (Zhou these can be considered in an accurate and Mingzhen once pointed out to me that the valid way. This book provides the opportu- institute reflected the evolutionary process, nity to do so. It will no doubt foster a better with the invertebrate paleontologists below understanding of Chinese paleoanthropology the vertebrate paleontologists, who in turn than currently exists. are below the paleoanthropologists). The archaeological sequence is discussed in MILFORDH. WOLPOFF serial order, perhaps reflecting chronology. Department of Anthropology Jia Lanpo describes the earliest Paleolithic The University of Michigan remains, supporting the redating of Yuan- Ann Arbor, Michigan METRICAND NON-METRICCRANIAL VARIA- The biological variation within Australian TION IN AUSTRALIANABORIGINAL POPULA- Aboriginal populations, the presumed Asian TIONS COMPARED WITH POPULATIONS FROM origin of the founding population, and the THE PACIFIC AND ASIA. By M. Pietrusewsky. presence of temporal trends within Australia Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute are the subjects of protracted debate. Despite of Aboriginal Studies. 1984. xi + 113 pp., an increased effort in the last two decades, maps, figures, tables, references. $9.95 this debate is after 200 years of research still (paper). some distance from resolution. Pietrusewsky .