Homo Erectus and Later Middle Pleistocene Humans
Annual Review of Anthropology
Vol. 17: 239-259 (Volume publication date October 1988)
G P Rightmire
In lieu of an abstract, the publisher reproduces the first page of the article. (Link)
Letters to My Tutor…
My dearest Simone,
Many of the site names in this review were immediately familiar to me, Olduvai Gorge, Zhoukoudian, the Koobi Fora Formation. Still, my mind glazed over just a little reading some of the finer details of identifying Homo erectus — I found myself longing for illustrations. With a quick consult of a more recently written textbook, I learned that the discussion of whether sets of individuals found in Africa and Asia that are both commonly referred to as Homo erectus should be grouped together in that fashion or labeled separate species continues.
Reading of Olduvai Gorge, I was put in mind of how the Leakeys were probably the archaeologists/anthropologists who made the biggest impression of me when I was younger. Mary Leakey stood out to me because she was a woman doing exciting work in exotic locales. I probably first heard her name in association with the Lucy and with the Laetoli footprints and most likely on some PBS broadcast. She was just the kind of woman I was encouraged to like — talented, strong, spirited, freedom-loving, adventurous (As a little girl, I watched reruns of “The Big Valley” with my Granny, and I listened to her sing the praises of Victoria Barkley.). Of the male Leakeys, I remember Richard the most from childhood, again, probably from some PBS special.
I will put a biography of Mary Leakey on my reading list for this year. I would not of have thought to do so had I not read this article. Now, I’m looking forward to it.
Yours truly,
S.
