THE CAMBRIDGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HUNTERS AND GATHERERS

Hunting and gathering is humanities first and most successful adaptation, occupying fully 90% of human history. Until 12,000 years ago all humanity lived this way. Surprisingly, in an increasingly urbanized and technological world,dozens of hunting and gathering societies have persisted on five continents. Case studies of more than 50 of the world's hunting and gathering peoples, written by leading experts, tell a story of resilience in the face of change, of ancient ways now combined with the trappings of modernity. Divided into seven world regions, each section includes a regional introduction and an archaeological overview. Thematic essays discuss prehistory, social life, gender, music and art, and indigenous knowledge. The final section surveys the complex history of hunter-gatherers' encounters with colonialism and the State and their ongoing struggles for dignity and human rights as part of the worldwide movement of indigenous peoples. Read more