532 BOOK REVIEWS

All analyses are primarily of a descriptive
nature; estimation of evolutionary genetic
parameters and statistical hypothesis test-
ing are not addressed. The observed genetic
distances are interpreted in terms of linguis-
tic affinities, geographic proximity, ancient
migration routes, and genetic drift. The pre-
sented analyses barely begin to scratch the
surface of the potential that this data set
offers, a point that the authors clearly recog-
nize. The book ends with a lucid synthesis in
which the authors make a compelling case
for continued studies of microevolution in
South American Indian populations.
This book would be a useful addition to the
library of anyone interested in human varia-
tion. It is extremely well-referenced and
clearly illustrates the current scope of hu-
man population biology. The book could
serve as an appropriate text for an advanced
geographic area course, a neglected format
in most graduate physical anthropology pro-
grams.
JOHN BLANGERO
Department of Genetics
Southwest Foundation for Biomedical
Research
San Antonio, Texas

EVOLUZIONE, UOMOE AMBIENTE: LINEAMENTIality. Thus we learn a few things not likely
DI ANTROPOLOGIA. By Fiorenzo Facchini. encountered in American texts, such as the
Torino, Italy: Utet Libreria. 1988. xvi + distinction among the French digestive, Ital-
588 pp., figures, tables, index. (paper). ian rectomorphic, and American endomor-
phic types. The serology and isonymy sec-
tions are up to date and rather better than in
In Evolution, Man and Environment: Fea- most texts I have examined. There is vast
tures of Anthropology, Facchini asserts that detail to Facchini’s treatment of racial types
humans are defined by self-recognition and and subtypes. In this regard some faithful-
the ability to be responsible to the environ- ness to the old European ideas is intermixed
ment. His broad textbook is an effort to bring with the new physical anthropology.
the modern interdisciplinary and synthetic There is understandably an emphasis on
nature of human investigations to Italian Italian-language references, although the
anthropology. It is of interest to compare provincial quality is heavy in early chapters
themes in Italian bioanthropology with the in which the likes of Cavalli-Sforza,
features we emphasize in the Anglo-Amer- Chiarelli, and Corruccini are the citations in
ican world. For instance, his first chapters English; in later chapters, however, this
demonstrate better grasp and coverage of changes, and a fairly current and interna-
the ancient historical roots of anthropologi- tional bibliography is built up. Altogether,
cal endeavors (in Europe, generally, “anthro- the hominid paleontology and primate sec-
pology” equates with “bioanthropology”plus tions would be considered rudimentary, and
“paleolithic archeology”). the human variation aspects advanced and
Chapters on primates and on anatomy detailed by comparison with U.S. physical
precede a comparatively slim genetics sec- anthropology textbooks. To my mind, Fac-
tion. The hominid paleontology chapter se- chini cites more of the old guard than the
quence is standard. In the interests of local modern-thinking young progressives of Ital-
communication, Facchini still finds it neces- ian bioanthropology, but many of these lat-
sary to translate taxonomic terms as “arch- ter are just now coming into prominence.
anthropi,” “paleoanthropi,”and so forth. The Basically, Facchini thus presents the best
other quaint feature of paleontologic sec- face of the contemporary Italian field that
tions is the author’s continued reference to still has to coexist with a strong persistence
the legendary Neandertal cannibalism. of 19th century standards and conventions.
Anthropometry and somatometry are
much more developed and intricate than in ROBERT S. CORRUCCINI
typical introductory texts. We encounter Department of Anthropology
schools of constitutional (somatotypic) ter- Southern Illinois University
minology in some detail, arranged by nation- Carbondale, Illinois