Cave Bears and Modern Human Origins: The Spatial Taphonomy of Pod Hradem Cave, Czech Republic

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This book systematically examines an animal bone assemblage in order to ascertain its spatial patterning. The study was first undertaken to discover the likely animal actors responsible for any horizontal spatial patterning. There is much data to support the long-held notion that the cave was a hibernation den for bears. In this study, the author provides fresh insight by arguing that there is powerful evidence that these bear carcasses had been scavenged by wolves and hyenas. He also argues that animals can create spatial patterns in the absence of culture or modern human cognitive abilities. Gargett suggests that an effort must be made to identify distinctive spatial patterns that result from human cognitive processes, such as language and culture. Only then, he argues, will spatial analysis achieve its potential as a means to help resolve questions about the origins of modern humans. This book will appeal to Paleolithic archaeologists and Paleoanthropologists. Its analyses will interest vertebrate paleontologists and paleobiologists as well.

Author Biography: Dr. Robert H. Gargett is a Research Associate of the Archaeological Research Facility at the University of California at Berkeley and a Lecturer at San Jose State University.

FROM THE CRITICS

American Antiquity - Gary Haynes

"An important and well-written treatise on the topic of spacial taphony and should be rquired reading for anyone dealing with archaeological materials from caves of rock shelters."

International Journal Of Ostearchaeology - Gary Haynes

"...Gargett's study is largely successful in his demonstration that non-human behavior can pattern material remains in space and that this finding has implications for the relevance of utilizing spatial patterning to discern the origins of the symbolic human mind."

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Rowman & Littlefield

"Overall, it is a good piece of work. University Press of America is to be commended for publishing it...needs to be read by many paleobiologists and zooarchaelogists." — Dr. R. Lee Lyman

Rowman & Littlefield