Book Review: Bones of Contention: A Creationist Assessment of Human Fossils

Author: Marvin L. Lubenow
Spiritual Bias: Christian
Origins Bias: Young Earth Creationist
Rating: Middle of the Road
Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Comments: There are very few books from creationists on the market that are written solely to address the issue of hominid fossils. This book is one of them. Marvin Lubenow has spent 25 years studying the fossil discoveries of early man and bipedal apes. He draws two basic conclusions with respect to these fossils. He thinks that some of these creatures are human like us (i.e. Homo Erectus) and thinks that the rest of the creatures are apes (i.e Australopithecus). The best aspect of this book is Lubenow's ability to point out myths and heavy assumptions that are associated with the entire issue. For example, he explains that hominid fossils are extraordinarily rare and that most of the finds are simply bone fragments. Also he exposes the many assumptions that are made during the fossil dating process. I find this book to be a good resource well after I have read it. And irrespective of what you believe these fossils are, this book is a very good source of information.


Summary Quote: "Archeological evidence also demonstrates that the distinction between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens is an artificial one. Although there are limitations in the archeological record, all of the evidences that one could reasonably expect to be discovered to demonstrate the full humanity of Homo erectus have already been found in association with him. Of the seventy-seven localities where Homo erectus fossil have been found, more than half (forty-two) of these sites have also yielded stone tools. At eleven of the Homo erectus sites there is evidence of the controlled use of fire."