Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 1 - The legacy of prehistory: an essay on the background to the individuality of African cultures

  • Edited by J. D. Fage
  • Book:
    The Cambridge History of Africa
    Published online:
    28 March 2008
    Print publication:
    01 February 1979, pp 11-86

  • Summary

    Palaeoanthropology is the means whereby the developmental stages in man's intellectual and cultural evolution are investigated and interpreted and, on the evidence as it exists today, it would appear that man the tool-maker was a product of the African tropical savannas. The basic stock was perhaps as variable as are the Kibish crania from Omo in East Africa, and became differentiated during the 40-50,000 years' duration of the later Pleistocene, that culture became differentiated, coincidently with the genetic changes that followed increasing identification of the populations with specific geographical regions and ecosystems. The extent of Middle Palaeolithic/Middle Stone Age variability will serve to demonstrate the degree of environmental adaptation that had been achieved by the early Homo sapiens populations. Between 16,000 and 10,000 BC there is evidence for much local variation in the forms of the stone industries in Nubia and Upper Egypt.