An introduction to anthropology
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| An introduction to anthropology |
a general survey of the early history of the human race
The books hitherto published on the subject have been confined for the most part to special aspects of early culture, and, therefore, are not intended to cover the whole field of the life of man before history (i.e., the era prior to written records).
In the selection of subject matter, it has been the author's purpose to give a resume of the conclusions arrived at by specialists in their several departments, in such a manner as to present a consecutive account of the early history of the human race.
References are given in footnotes to enable the serious student to investigate the evidence and frame his own conclusions. In this way, it is hoped that the book may be of value to those persons who are about to pursue a systematic course of training at the University of Oxford or London for a Diploma in Anthropology, as well as to the general reader. It will be readily understood that in a work of this kind, no attempt can be made to enter into detailed investigations of such complex problems as those dealing with the migrations of early culture.
It must be left to Prof. Elliot Smith to verify his hypothesis by comparing the distribution of the various elements belonging to the supposed megalithic culture on a worldwide scale, and to Dr Rivers and Mr. Perry to test the theory using more intensive regional studies.
If their conclusions are correct, then a vital transformation must take place in our whole attitude towards the culture of savage people and its supposed primitiveness. But for the present, the writer of an " introduction " to pre-historic archaeology must be content to follow the more generally accepted view and merely state as fairly as possible the points at issue. The same applies to the controversy regarding the age of the Grime's Graves and Cissbury Flint mines.
Edwin Oliver James was an anthropologist in the field of comparative religion. He was Professor Emeritus of the History and Philosophy of Religion at the University of London, a Fellow of University College London and a Fellow of King's College London.
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