Book Club, December 7, David Reich, Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past

December 7:David Reich, Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past</p<

Chair: Sara Shettleworth, with Anthropologist, Susan Pfeiffer

The title says it all: this exciting and important book describes how humans spread across the planet, with a cast of characters ranging from Neanderthals, Denisovans, and “Hobbits” to the earliest arrivals in North America not so very long ago. Reich clearly describes the genetic and statistical techniques used by ancient DNA researchers, and illustrates with excellent diagrams and maps their findings on endless migrations and mixing of human populations. Some of the findings are controversial, especially those that conflict with the established views of cultural anthropologists based on artifacts. And as Reich discusses in a thoughtful final chapter, they also have important implications for the notion of race.

The link to register is https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JsKqeAMvTUuQN7RtVsVSEKo-DHaj3xRAluk2q6EEM7NUOFhFTlZVWDdFVkpPSEhMQkdMNUpZUkE2Qy4u
The deadline to register is Monday, before the talk at 1pm. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants only.