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brannigan's review
2.0
This book didn't really deliver what it promised: instead of a good overview of the human predecessors and ancestors that have lived in Britain, how they lived, etc., 'Homo Britannicus' is more of a pat on the back for archaeology as a discipline - a bit contrived, as it is written by an archaeologist.
There are lots of references to dig sites around Britain (gets confusing after a while - did Boxgrove man come before Swanscombe man or vice versa? Etc.), most of which contain inconclusive materials, and lots of lists of the fauna that lived in Britain at certain times. There are interesting tidbits here and there but the book didn't give me any more info on homo heidelbergensis, neanderthalensis, archaic sapiens etc., and that's what I was looking for.
In all, this is a strange book. Parts of it read like a pamphlet for AHOB, the author's ongoing archaeology project, and the last chapter is pretty much an essay on global warming that has nothing at all to do with the humans who lived in Britain from 700,000 years ago other than the implication that "the climate changed back then and they had a hard time so we'll probably have a hard time too if we carry on". It seems like Stringer is far more passionate about climate than unearthing the human past, and as a result he doesn't really try to understand ancient humans.
There are lots of references to dig sites around Britain (gets confusing after a while - did Boxgrove man come before Swanscombe man or vice versa? Etc.), most of which contain inconclusive materials, and lots of lists of the fauna that lived in Britain at certain times. There are interesting tidbits here and there but the book didn't give me any more info on homo heidelbergensis, neanderthalensis, archaic sapiens etc., and that's what I was looking for.
In all, this is a strange book. Parts of it read like a pamphlet for AHOB, the author's ongoing archaeology project, and the last chapter is pretty much an essay on global warming that has nothing at all to do with the humans who lived in Britain from 700,000 years ago other than the implication that "the climate changed back then and they had a hard time so we'll probably have a hard time too if we carry on". It seems like Stringer is far more passionate about climate than unearthing the human past, and as a result he doesn't really try to understand ancient humans.
lucyhargrave's review
2.0
I think if I'd read this in 2007 when it was first published it would have been a more enjoyable and insightful read but unfortunately Homo Britannicus hasn't aged well.
Chris Stringer focuses much of the novel on climate change and how human life struggled to survive throughout the ages with such variable weather. The end chapter is purely an essay on the future dangers current humans faced with global warming and climate change. These are causes I completely believe in and am passion about but because of that I didn't need to read more about it. Also being written over 13 years ago you can tell he is coming from a time when climate change wasn't widely accepted. It meant valuable page time is given to climate change throughout the millenniums rather than focusing on the evolution of different humans in Britain, which is what I thought this book would be.
Overall I've read better more recent books on this subject and therefore can't give it a higher rating than 2 stars.
Chris Stringer focuses much of the novel on climate change and how human life struggled to survive throughout the ages with such variable weather. The end chapter is purely an essay on the future dangers current humans faced with global warming and climate change. These are causes I completely believe in and am passion about but because of that I didn't need to read more about it. Also being written over 13 years ago you can tell he is coming from a time when climate change wasn't widely accepted. It meant valuable page time is given to climate change throughout the millenniums rather than focusing on the evolution of different humans in Britain, which is what I thought this book would be.
Overall I've read better more recent books on this subject and therefore can't give it a higher rating than 2 stars.
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