The Roots Of Civilization by Alexander Marshack

"The Roots of Civilization" explores the intellectual and technological advancements of early human societies, focusing on the development of counting, recording, and other prehistoric cognitive processes. The book delves into the analysis of ancient artifacts, such as bone and antler carvings, to argue that early humans possessed a sophisticated understanding of complex concepts like time, astronomy, and seasonal cycles much earlier than previously believed. Through detailed examination of these artifacts, the work challenges traditional views on the timeline of human cognitive evolution, suggesting that the roots of modern civilization extend much further back into the Paleolithic era than commonly accepted.

The 8757th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 33

Since this book was first published in 1972, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 33.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.