Our Primate Past

Combining perspectives and approaches from zooarchaeology, palaeontology, evolutionary biology and the history of science, this book explores the intertwined histories of humans and our primate kin. It examines the incredible diversity of the primate family tree, from the interaction of humans and recently extinct giant lemurs on Madagascar, through the rise and fall of apes across Africa and Eurasia, to the arrival of monkeys in the Americas. Organized into 8 interconnected chapters, this book presents a comprehensive summary of all major primate groups and their evolutionary history.

Our Primate Past covers topics such as:
- the evolutionary history and migration of primates
- human-primate interactions
- perceptions of primates in art and material culture
- climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation programs

Through a discussion of the latest archaeological and fossil finds – as well as bringing in scientific breakthroughs –Towle challenges the commonly held misconceptions about our evolution. Offering more than a mere discussion of the primate family tree, Towle describes how human interaction with other primates has been pivotal in the evolutionary story of both us and them. Designed for students and instructors, this book offers an easy to digest archaeological and evolutionary history of our extended primate family, and our place within it.