Summary

Dr. David Braun of George Washington University’s Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology in the Anthropology Department chats about the cycles of tool use and niche construction. We talk about how one affects the other and vice versa in cycles, plus the interplay of greater environmental and climate change. Dr. Braun also discusses how we can look into the near and deep past to figure out environmental change.

Recommendations

• What to read to learn more:
  • Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology website
  • Stone Age Archaeology website (Dr. Braun’s lab)
  • Koobi Fora Field School
  • Smithsonian Human Origins Program
  • American Museum of Natural History Human Origins
  • ASU Institute of Human Origins
• What he’s reading for work right now:
  • Will, M., Krapp, M., Stock, J.T. et al. Different environmental variables predict body and brain size evolution in Homo. Nat Commun 12, 4116 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24290-7
• What he’s consuming for fun:
  • Ted Lasso (Apple TV)