The Paleoanthropology and Archaeology of Big-Game Hunting: Protein, Fat, or Politics?

By John D. Speth

Book Overview

Since its inception, paleoanthropology has been closely wedded to the idea that big-game hunting by our hominin ancestors arose, first and foremost, as a means for acquiring energy and vital nutrients. This assumption has rarely been questioned, and seems intuitively obvious--meat is a nutrient-rich food with the ideal array of amino acids, and big animals provide meat in large, convenient packages. Through new research, the author of this volume provides a strong argument that the primary goals of big-game hunting were actually social and political--increasing hunter's prestige and standing--and that the nutritional component was just an added bonus.

Through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary research approach, the author examines the historical and current perceptions of protein as an important nutrient source, the biological impact of a high-protein diet and the evidence of this in the archaeological record, and provides a compelling reexamination of this long-held conclusion. This volume will be of interest to researchers in Archaeology, Evolutionary Biology, and Paleoanthropology, particularly those studying diet and nutrition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 144196732X
• ISBN13: 9781441967329
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"