A University of Liverpool academic, Dr Lucy Timbrell, is featured in the latest book on human evolution edited by Professor Alice Roberts, Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham and known to many as the presenter of TV shows such as ‘Digging for Britain’ and ‘The Incredible Human Journey’.
The new book, ‘HUMANS: The Evolution of a Species’ presents the latest advances in understanding human evolution, challenging old myths and baked-in misconceptions all through the lens of the human body.
Each chapter tackles a different body part, showing how it has evolved and the role it has played, and is written by an expert drawn from an international team of scholars in many fields of human evolution, including archaeology, palaeontology, anthropology, and cognitive science.
Tracing human’s earliest technological advances
Dr Timbrell, who is a postdoctoral research fellow the Department of Archaeology, Classics & Egyptology’s Human Origins Group, as well as working internationally at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Germany, has contributed a chapter exploring the evolution of human technology.
Spanning the earliest stone tools from over 3 million years ago through to the sophisticated toolkits of later prehistoric societies, Lucy draws on archaeological evidence from around the world. She examines how advances in toolmaking reflect the development of human cognition, adaptability, social learning, and cultural complexity. Her chapter highlights key technological innovations, including handaxes, hafted tools, blade technologies, and microliths, and demonstrates how technology played a central role in shaping human evolution.
Speaking of her inclusion in the book, Dr Timbrell said: “It has been a pleasure to contribute to ‘HUMANS’ alongside colleagues whose work I greatly admire. I am delighted to have the opportunity to share our research with a wider audience and I am very excited to see the finished book published.”
Published on 4 June, ‘HUMANS’ features not only beautiful illustrations, but also photos of prehistoric art, tools, jewellery, and recreations of all of these made by experimental archaeologists. You can find out more and pick up a copy here.