In May 1963, Henry de Lumley first visited a vast cave in the Corbières mountains, near Perpignan in south-western France, filled with 600,000-year-old prehistoric vestiges, which he has been studying since. It was there that de Lumley discovered the remains of Europe's first inhabitants. By studying their remains in detail, he has been able to reconstruct how those early inhabitants were born, lived and died.
In this abundantly illustrated book, the author traces the evolution of Australopithecus, the first primate to walk upright; early village organisation; the beginnings of agriculture, animal husbandry and pottery; culminating with the appearance of modern human beings.
Will this evolutionary process come to a halt, or will modern humans, like their predecessors, be replaced by another human species possessing new, greater abilities?

'A fascinating tale.'Le Figaro Littéraire
'The entire prehistory of humanity told here by a great humanist.' Libération
'Henry de Lumley takes us back to the origins of humanity by patiently reconstructing a jigsaw puzzle which is still missing many pieces. This is a brilliant piece of investigation that will help researchers in prehistory who are constantly confronted with the question: How should a human being be defined? Henry de Lumley's great force is his ability to make our ancestors come to life.' Le Figaro Magazine

Renowned for his work on the cave of Tautavel, Henry de Lumley heads France's Muséum National d'Histoire Naturel and the Musée de l'Homme.