The Paleoanthropology and Archaeology of Big-Game Hunting

Protein, Fat, or Politics?

von John D. Speth

233 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

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.

• Reihe: Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology
• Themen: Geschichte und Archäologie Archäologie
• ISBN: 9781461426745
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 24.07.2012
• Größe: 23.5 x 15.5 cm
• Verlag: Springer US