In conversation with particle physicist Brian Cox, archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes reveals the Neanderthals as curious, clever connoisseurs of their world, technologically inventive and ecologically adaptable.
Since their discovery over 160 years ago, Neanderthals metamorphosed from the losers of the human family tree to A-list hominins. They ranged across vast tracts of tundra and steppe, but also stalked in dappled forests and waded in the Mediterranean Sea. Above all, they were successful: survivors of over 300,000 years of massive climate change. Rebecca Wragg Sykes reveals a deeper, more nuanced story where humanity itself is our ancient, shared inheritance. It is only by understanding them, that we can truly understand ourselves.
Praise for Rebecca Wragg Sykes’s Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art:
‘Blending cutting-edge science with lyrical storytelling, Rebecca Wragg Sykes paints a detailed portrait of our enigmatic relatives.’ – Professor Alice Roberts, anatomist, author and broadcaster
‘Written with such pleasing, elegant prose, Kindred is a captivating ode to the subtle complexities of palaeoanthropology – the thrill of discovery, the frustrating gaps in the evidence, the tantalising question marks hovering above our favourite ideas. Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes balances admirable scientific caution with her joyous enthusiasm, and the result is a generous, enthralling history of how we first came to know our ancient cousins, and how we’re still getting to know them today.’
Greg Jenner, historian and author
‘Kindred is a tour de force. A rich and beautiful synthesis of all that is known about Neanderthal biology and culture, it should be required reading for anyone interested in the history of humanity.’
Dr Tori Herridge, palaeontologist and TV presenter
‘Eminently readable, creatively constructed, Sykes work on Neanderthals is like no book you’ve read before on the subject. Tackling a field of science that seems destined to reinvent itself with every new discovery, Kindred takes the reader behind the scenes of the latest science, and into the heart of the question of just how human were these closest of our extinct kin? A must read not only for fans of Neanderthals, but for anyone interested in the exploration of the past. Beautifully written, poetical at points, Kindred explores a species that almost every human alive is genetically connected to in a refreshing way. Current, compelling and well researched, Sykes work will give you a fresh, up to date look into the science behind this fascinating ancient human relative.’
Professor Lee R. Berger, University of Witswatersrand
