Deep History, Climate Change, and the Evolution of Human Culture

Biosemiotics explores how humans have evolved in changing climates and environments, from Homo erectus 1.9 million years ago to modern humans 70,000 years ago. It reveals how culture developed through bipedalism, meat-eating, fire, stone tools, and clothing, allowing for wide migrations and adaptations. Archaeology and ancient DNA analysis show how modern humans overlapped with Neanderthals and Denisovans before emerging as the sole survivors 35,000 years ago. Their visions of the world are depicted in cave paintings, bone sculptures, and written narratives like the Gilgamesh epic and Euripides' Bacchae.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

From the emergence of Homo erectus over 1.9 million years ago to the advent of fully modern humans who ventured out of Africa to Europe and Asia approximately 70,000 years ago, the evolution of this element has closely tracked the development of humans in ever-changing climates and environments. Biosemiotics unveils profound communication among coevolving members of the intricate tapestry of life on our dynamic planet. Within this interconnected web, hominins embarked on a remarkable journey, evolving from bipedalism and meat-eating to the mastery of fire, stone tools, and clothing. This transformative development facilitated extensive migrations and adaptations, enabling humans to thrive across diverse regions.

Archaeology and ancient DNA analysis provide compelling evidence of the overlap between fully modern humans and their Neanderthal and Denisovan counterparts. This intermingling occurred before the emergence of Homo sapiens as the sole survivors of the Homo genus approximately 35,000 years ago. The visions of the world articulated by these early humans are captured in awe-inspiring cave paintings, intricate bone sculptures of animals, and written narratives such as the Gilgamesh epic and Euripides' Bacchae. These timeless works continue to haunt us, resonating with our enduring anxieties about human endeavors to exert control over the natural world.

Weight: 121g
ISBN-13: 9781009257336