The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack

In The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack, human paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall critiques the long-standing tradition of "human exceptionalism" that has shaped the field of paleoanthropology, potentially skewing our understanding of human evolution. Drawing from his own experiences in the field and tracing a historical timeline from Charles Darwin to recent discoveries in the Caucasus, Tattersall highlights how misconceptions, like those surrounding the infamous Neanderthal skull from 1856, have led to fantastical explanations in the study of human origins. With a blend of personal insight and critical analysis, the book examines the competitive nature of paleoanthropology and the implications of misinterpretations in our evolutionary narrative.