Written specifically for the combined biological anthropology and archaeology course, this long-needed text hits the major topics required in a text of this nature and incorporates the latest research and findings to make it far and away the most up-to-date text available.

Recipient of AAA's Outstanding Teaching Award in 1999, Pat Rice is the immediate past president of the General Anthropology Division of AAA and co-director of the Institute for Teaching Anthropology. While other texts simply describe the concepts of issues facing these disciplines, through their scientific approach, the authors pose the key questions in an accessible and more effective manner. Thus, they lay out the possible responses, generate hypotheses, evaluate the evidence used, and allow readers to form their own conclusions. As one reviewer writes, “The strength of this text is its willingness to present several sides to a particular issue.”

Superbly illustrated with abundant photographs and figures and multi-media presentation options, the authors demonstrate a focus on student learning and present the material with a clear, refreshing, and straightforward writing style.