Our Origins provides an accessible and engaging introduction to biological anthropology, with an emphasis on the discipline’s relevance and latest research advancements. Through balanced and clear explanations, author Clark Larsen ensures that students not only grasp the basics but also understand how what they’re learning applies to their own lives, communities, and prospective career paths. The book’s clear and concise writing, rich art program, and focus on new discoveries empower every student to succeed in the course.

Clark Spencer Larsen

is Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Anthropology at The Ohio State University. A native of Nebraska, he received his BA from Kansas State University and his MA and PhD from the University of Michigan. Clark’s research is in bioarchaeology, skeletal biology, and paleoanthropology. He has worked in North America, Europe, and Asia and has taught at the University of Massachusetts–North Dartmouth campus, Northern Illinois University, Purdue University, and the University of North Carolina. Since 2001, he has been a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University, where he was department chair from 2001 to 2017. He teaches introductory biological anthropology, osteology, bioarchaeology, and paleoanthropology. Clark has served as president of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists and as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Biological Anthropology. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as the National Academy of Sciences. In addition to Essentials of Biological Anthropology, he has authored or edited 35 books and monographs, including Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton, Skeletons in Our Closet, Advances in Dental Anthropology, and A Companion to Biological Anthropology.