Book Review: Homo britannicus

First published in 2006 and first read by myself in 2007, Homo britannicus was the first book I ever read about ancient humans and sparked an interested that has stayed with me ever since.

I have just re-read this book because it contains so much information that I decided to create a timeline in Excel. This timeline will help me understand in a wider context what happened when.

Chris Stringer begins with a chapter about how research into geology and anthropology began and how it then developed into the knowledge and methodologies that we have today. He isn't shy about some of the historic mistakes made by individuals in his field either and looks in some detail about whom may have instigated the Piltdown Man forgeries.

Going through the ages in each chapter, starting with around 700,000 years ago. Mr Stringer weaves together the theories and evidence in this multidisciplinary investigation to the ancient humans that have lived on our little piece of the planet. The AHOB (Ancient Human Occupation of Britain) team gather together evidence that can tell us in great detail what species of human were around and the tools they were using, what plants and animals were around, and therefore what climate was experienced at different periods of Britain's history. It is this approach that draws you into the book and keep you there. Experiencing the excitement of the finding, as if it were you systematically revealing the fossils of the 'red lady' of Paviland and not William Buckland.

The book closes by drawing together evidence of climate in our past and looking at the factors that affect our current climate before extrapolating what the worse case may be if things carry on in the projected manner.

I initially read the paperback version of this book before asking for the hardback version - the hardback, to me, is a much better experience because the images and photographs flow and progress with the text rather than being confined to a couple of plate sections.

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in learning about our country through the past 700,000 years and the humans who resided here. In truth, I feel, it is a book that should be in comprehensive schools throughout the British Isles.

 
Own or Loan:          Own
Read Again:            Yes
Recommend:          Yes
Overall out of Five: 5