Early humans did not drift north from Africa as their ability to cope with cooler climates evolved. Settlement of Europe and northern Asia occurred in relatively rapid bursts of expansion. This study tells the complex story, spanning almost two million years, of how humans inhabited some of the coldest places on earth.

Early humans did not simply drift northward from their African origins as their abilities to cope with cooler climates evolved. The initial settlement of places like Europe and northern Asia, as well as the later movement into the Arctic and the Americas, actually occurred in relatively rapid bursts of expansion. A Prehistory of the North is the first full-length study to tell the complex story, spanning almost two million years, of how humans inhabited some of the coldest places on earth. In an account rich with illustrations, John Hoffecker traces the history of anatomical adaptations, diet modifications, and technological developments, such as clothing and shelter, that allowed humans the continued ability to push the boundaries of their frontier. The book concludes by showing how in the last few thousand years, peoples living in the circumpolar zone--with the exception of western and central Siberia--developed a thriving maritime economy. Written in no technical language, A Prehistory of the North provides compelling new insights and valuable information for professionals and students.

For the first time in recent years, we have a synthesis of the latest thinking and discoveries by a younger scholar with an authoritative grasp of the subject. This book is an important contribution to the general literature of human prehistory, unique for its comprehensive coverage of the circumpolar regions.