Neil Harrison worked as a physicist and engineer in the Space industry for many years and helped develop intelligent communication systems for customers on four continents.

An essential skill in this work was to identify conflicts in highly complex systems and to predict the occurrence of potential problems. He applies this mind set to wide-ranging interests which include the fields of pre-history, history, travel, culture and religion.

Neil was first drawn to the study of anthropology in the 1990s, and he soon noted discrepancies in the literature that evolved into the themes he addresses in this book.

He now enjoys life perched high in the Alps with a sweeping view over vineyards and glaciers. He has written other books on history and culture and is currently working on more.

Who are we and where on earth do we come from? Scientists have traced back human ancestry to tropical Africa and small primates living in trees. But what happened after that has been hotly debated, and the accepted explanations have led down blind...

Who are we and where on earth do we come from? Scientists have traced back human ancestry to tropical Africa and small primates living in trees. But what happened after that has been hotly debated, and the accepted explanations have led down blind alleys. By putting aside theories anchored in religion and perceived political imperatives anchored in post-World War II guilt, we can hope to obtain a more accurate understanding of human origins. That is the goal of this book. The story starts 6 million years ago, when the small and timid animal that was our forerunner (and the chimpanzee's) still existed. The narrative follows the evolution of our ancestors from then, through their great achievements, such as learning to walk on two legs, finding a profitable use for the two hands, learning to communicate and then actually talk. As our tools evolved, so did our bodies. Then 1.8 million years ago, some of these early Ã?¢'¬Ã??people;¢ strayed into Europe, surviving in a freezing world and encountering challenges hitherto unknown. This is the incredible story of how Europeans evolved and populated Eurasia and onwards to the Americas. The story brings the reader to the Mesolithic when cultures, towns and trades that we are familiar with today started to emerge. Anyone interested in European, Eurasian or Native American ancestry should read this book to discover how we really came to be who we are: a story as gripping as traditional versions such as Adam and Eve, Popul Vuh and Gaia.