Essentials of Physical Anthropology 8e

Best-selling ESSENTIALS OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, International Edition, presents a concise and authoritative introduction to physical anthropology with the goal of helping students understand the big picture of human evolution. Supported by vibrant visuals that include abundant illustrations, with completely redrawn maps, dozens of new photographs, and photo-enhanced maps, the text focuses on human evolution and biology to help students master basic biological principles of physical anthropology and so to be able to better understand human origins and our place in the biological world. While continuing to set the standard with its balanced coverage of the four topic areas taught, the new edition has been thoroughly revised with updated coverage as well as new features - including greater emphasis on a clear presentation of fossil finds based on chronology to facilitate better student comprehension. Instead of just describing fossils and the sites where they were found, the authors interpret them, within the framework of the story of human evolution, while new features like "Why It Matters" further emphasize the fossils' evolutionary significance, and often even propose the relevance of chapter material to students' lives. The new edition also provides thorough coverage of cutting-edge advances in molecular biology and expanded coverage of population biology and human variation. Altogether, ESSENTIALS OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, International Edition integrates coverage of the latest finds with relevant technologies to be the most up-to-date text available.This text provides concise, balanced coverage of heredity and evolution, primates, hominid evolution, and contemporary human evolution. Its exceptionally accessible, student-friendly presentation of complex concepts is complemented by many powerful, in-text study tools. The text's highly integrated art and pedagogical program makes the book more easily comprehensible to a wide range of students with diverse backgrounds in science. The authors don't just describe the fossils -- they interpret them. The text presents fossils in chronological order and connects the different fossil finds to human evolution, so students understand the big picture of human evolution -- not just the data. Numerous charts and diagrams summarize key information throughout the text, helping students understand complex scientific material using a visually simple format. Proven pedagogical aids, including chapter-opening focus questions, intermittent quick reviews, a running glossary and chapter-ending critical-thinking questions, help students grasp course material and complex concepts. Designed to help you focus on "big picture" evolutionary changes, such as trends, characteristics, and patterns, highly visual graphic reviews of fossil finds identify each major fossil group, the region where it was found, and its evolutionary significance. Also, vivid timelines on the tables highlight chronology. The text's innovative electronic supplements include a premium website that offers a wealth of interactive resources such as video activities, map exercises, and quizzing. Additionally, the package includes Online Virtual Labs, a hands-on computer component for completing lab assignments at school or at home; students can actively participate in 12 labs using video clips, 3-D animations, sound, and digital images. The "Why It Matters" chapter review features offer quick summaries with bulleted lists for easy review. These unique reviews discuss how the chapter's material adds to our understanding of human evolution The Anthropology Resource Center is an online center that offers a wealth of information and useful tools for both instructors and students in all four fields of anthropology. It includes interactive maps, learning modules, video exercises, breaking news, interactive exercises, and critical-thinking questions to help students prepare for exams and conduct research for papers. An access card can be packaged with the text, or students can purchase access online through iChapters.com. Contact your local Cengage Learning sales representative for packaging information.