The book on hunting in human evolution expands its international reach with an English edition

The book La caza en la evolución humana, una aproximación desde la Prehistoria: gestión, alimentación y procedimientos, coordinated by Eudald Carbonell and Antoni Canals, takes a step forward in its international projection with the publication of its English edition, titled Hunting in Human Evolution. An Approach from Prehistory: Management, Food and Procedures.

This new edition, recently presented in Madrid, has been made possible through the collaboration between Fundación Artemisan and Fundación Atapuerca, with the aim of broadening the reach of a work that combines scientific rigor with a strong outreach perspective to explain the fundamental role of hunting in the history of our species.

A reference work connecting science and society

Originally published in 2022, the book analyzes hunting as a key activity in human biological and social evolution. Aimed at both specialized and general audiences, the work offers a cross-disciplinary perspective that helps explain why humans have hunted since the earliest times and how this practice has shaped our development as a species.

In the words of Eudald Carbonell, “humans have been hunter-gatherers for 99.9% of our evolutionary history,” placing hunting as a structural element of our past. Antoni Canals highlights that the book “brings together the past, the present, and projects into the future,” linking prehistoric knowledge with contemporary debates.

13 chapters to understand hunting from multiple perspectives

The book, authored by members of the Atapuerca Research Team (EIA), IPHES-CERCA, and Fundación Artemisan, is structured into 13 chapters covering topics such as:

• the evolution of the human brain linked to hunting
• its role as an economic strategy
• its social and symbolic dimensions
• hunting techniques and procedures over time

It also includes more specific approaches, such as cannibalism in the genus Homo, interpretations of hunting from a gender perspective, and its role in contemporary societies.

Strong participation from IPHES-CERCA researchers

The book features significant participation from IPHES-CERCA researchers, reinforcing the institute’s role in human evolution research. Contributors include Emiliano Bruner, Jordi Rosell, Marina Mosquera, Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Ruth Blasco, Rosa Huguet, Jordi Nadal, Patricia Martín, Palmira Saladié, Marcos García-Díez, María Cristina Fernández-Laso, Roberto Sánchez Garrido, Luis Fernando Villanueva, and Carlos Sánchez, among others.

A collaborative project with an international outlook

With this English edition, Fundación Artemisan and Fundación Atapuerca strengthen a collaborative line of work focused on the international dissemination of scientific knowledge. The goal is to bring to a global audience a complex yet essential reality for understanding human evolution: the role of hunting as a biological, cultural, and social driver.

Both the Spanish and English versions of the book are available through the publisher Almuzara.