Dr. Geoffrey Pope

 In Memoriam of our Colleague

   Professor Geoffrey Pope (1951-2019) was a world renowned paleoanthropologist who helped shape the field.   In his career spanning more than four decades (his first publication was in 1977), he contributed much to our collective understanding of human origins, especially the evolution of modern humans in Asia and Asian prehistory.  He authored over 60 articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries as well as a book on the biological basis of human evolution . His special contribution was the landmark essay ‘Bamboo and Human Evolution’ published in Natural History (1989) in which he made a compelling argument that ancient Asians made sophisticated tools (much like their African and European counterparts) but since they were made from bamboo (not stone), they were not as well preserved. This allowed him to also argue for the multiregional model of modern human origins. In addition to his remarkable scholarship, Geoff was a dedicated pedagogue and has actively shaped the Anthropology Department and the Asian Studies major at William Paterson University. He was passionate in his insistence that the department maintain a holistic view of humanity, and was adamant about students’ need to understand human evolution.  He loved teaching and students loved his classes.  His knowledge, wit, and humor were legendary amongst anthropology majors, as well as biology majors, as was his vivid story-telling about our shared human past, accompanied by his famous slides - openly shared with all students and colleagues.  Geoff was also a gentle-hearted human being, collegial in his own ways while retaining an ability to be critical about the times we live in, the institutions we inhabit and help produce.  He was an active member of the AFT, staunchly defending a public university that had students and faculty at its center. Anthropology at William Paterson University will miss Geoff. Our department and students will not forget him. We wish his family all strength to live with such a loss and remember him as a true intellectual gentleman.

Education

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, CA

M. A., Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, CA

B. A. Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Courses

Graduate:

  • Human Evolution
  • Hominid Evolution in Asia
  • Origin of Modern Humans
  • Biological Bases of Human Behavior
  • Human Ecology
  • Asian Prehistory
  • Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction
  • Stratigraphy

Undergraduate: 

  • Introduction to Physical Anthropology
  • Introduction to Anthropology
  • Human Variation
  • Human Evolution
  • Human Origins
  • Human Evolution in the Far East
  • Primate Evolution
  • Human Osteology
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Physical Geology
  • Origin of Man and Culture
  • Biological Bases of Human Behavior
  • Introduction to Geography
  • Indians of North America
  • Introduction to Geology
  • Geology and Prehistory of the Southwest
  • Exploring Asia
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Scientific English (Ministry of Technology and Development, Indonesia)

Publications   

2016 In (Chinese) Wei Qi. Pei Shuwen and Geoffrey G. Pope New Evidence of Human Occupation in the East Before 1.8 Ma. Journal of Hebei North University 31(5) 28-32.

2000 G. G. Pope. Biological Bases of Human Behavior. Allyn and Bacon. p. 331.

1997—G. G. Pope. Bamboo. In (F. Spencer Ed.) History of Physical Anthropology, An Encyclopedia. Garland Publishing, New York and London. p. 159–161.

1997—G. G. Pope. Asian Paleoanthropology. In (F. Spencer Ed.) History of Physical Anthropology, An Encyclopedia. Garland Publishing, New York and London p. 127–133.

1996—G. G. Pope. The Influence of Climate and Geography on the Biocultural Evolution of the Far Eastern Hominid. In (E.Vrba, G. Denton, T. Partridge and L. Burckle Eds.) Paleo-climate and Evolution. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. p. 493–506.

1995—G. G.Pope. The influence of climate and geography on the biocultural evolution of the Far Eastern hominids. In E. S. Vrba, G. H. Denton, T. C. Partridge, and L. H. Burckle (eds.): Paleoclimate and Evolution, with Emphasis on Human Origins. New Haven: Yale, pp. 493–506.

1995—G. G. Pope and M. Williams. Fossil Morphology, Miscalculations and Mitochondrial DNA—New Evidence in the Eve Controversy. Proceedings of the Lubbock Lake Landmark International Symposium. 114–128, Plenum, New York.

1994—M. H. Wolpoff, A. G. Thorne, F. H. Smith, D. W. Frayer and G. G. Pope. Multiregional Evolution World-Wide Source for Modern Humans. (Edited by M. H. Nitecki and D.V. Nitecki) Origins of Anatomically Modern Humans, Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology. New York and London, Plenum Press. pp. 175–200.

1994—G. G. Pope. The Howellian Perspective: Its Development and Influence on the Study of Human Evolution and Behavior. In R. L. Ciohon and R. Corrucini (Eds.) Integrative Pathways to the Past: Paleoanthropological Advances in Honor of F. Clark Howell. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall. pp. 1–15.

1994—G. G. Pope. Morphological Markers of Modernity in the Glenoid Region of Early Far Eastern Homo sapiens (Abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology Supplement 18: 161.

1994—G. G. Pope. Bamboo and Human Evolution. Natural History. October 48–57. (Reprinted 1992, 1993, 1994) In (E. Angeloni. Ed.) Physical Anthropology, Annual Additions. Dushkin Publishing Group, Guilford. pp. 162–166.

1994—G. G. Pope. A historical and scientific perspective on paleoanthropological research in the Far East. Cour. Forsch. Senckenberg. Frankfort: Senckenberg Museum. Vol. 171: 23–32.

1994—G. G. Pope and S. G. Keates. The evolution of human cognition and cultural capacity: A view from the Far East. In R.L. Ciohon and R. Corrucini (Eds.) Integrative Pathways to the Past: Paleoanthropological Advances in Honor of F. Clark Howell. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall. p. 531–56

1994—David W. Frayer, Milford H. Wolpoff, Alan G. Thorne, Fred H. Smith, Geoffrey G. Pope. Getting it Straight. American Anthropologist pp 424–438.

1994—D. W. Frayer, M. H. Wolpoff, A. G. Thorne, F. H Smith and G. G. Pope. Reply to C. Aimsbury and G. Krantz. American Anthropologist 96: 152–154.

1993—G. G. Pope. Book review of The Late Glacial in North-West Europe. (Edited by N. Barton,) A. J. Roberts, and D. A. Roe) in American Antiquity 58 (2): 386–387.

1993—G. G. Pope Patterns of diversity in Chinese and Javanese Pleistocene hominids (Abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Supplement 16: 159–160.

1993—G. G. Pope Ancient Asia’s Cutting Edge. Natural History 102 (5): 55–59.

1993—D. W. Frayer, M. H. Wolpoff, A. G. Thorne, F. H. Smith and G. G. Pope. Theories of Modern Human Origins: The Paleontological Test. American Anthropologist 95 (1): 14–50.

1992—G. G. Pope. The craniofacial evidence for the emergence of modern humans in China. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. Supplement 15.35: 243–298.

1992—G. G. Pope. Taxonomic diagnosis and morphological definition of anatomically modern Homo sapiens in China (Abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Supplement 14: 133.

1992—G. G. Pope. Replacement vs. Regionally Continuous Models: The Paleobehavioral and Fossil Evidence. In T. Akazawa, K. Aoki and T. Kimura (Eds.) The Evolution and Dispersal of Modern Humans in Asia. Tokyo: Hokusen-sha. p. 3–l4.

1992—G. G. Pope. Paleoenvironment and Paleoanthropology in China (Current Events). Journal of Human Evolution 22: 519–521.

1992—G. G. Pope and C. G. Turner II. Third Days Discussion (Summary). In T. Akazawa, K. Aoki and T. Kimura (Eds.) The Evolution and Dispersal of Modern Human in Asia. Tokyo: Hokusen-sha. p. 472–475.

1991—G.G. Pope. Evolution of the Zygomaticomaxillary Region in the genus Homo and its Relevance to the Origins of Modern Humans. Journal of Human Evolution 21 (3) 189–213.

1991—G. G. Pope. The Earliest Homo sapiens from the Far East (Abstract). American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Supplement 12:l44.

1991—G. G. Pope. New Discoveries and Regional Paleolithic Differentiation in the Far East (Abstract). Society for American Archeology. Abstracts, New Orleans. p. 131.

1991—G. G. Pope. Homo erectus and the Use of Bamboo. (Reprinted Excerpt from Natural History) In: W.A. Haviland, Anthropology. Chicago: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston Inc. pp. 159–163.

1991—G. G. Pope. Historical influences on interpretations of Asian palaeoanthropological data. 100 Years of Pithecanthropus—The Homo erectus Problem. 4th International Senckenberg Conference. (Abstract), Frankfurt a. M. p 2.

1991—G. G. Pope. Facial Morphology and the Origin of Modern Regional Populations (Abstract). International Union for Quaternary Research, XIII International Congress, Beijing. p. 284.

1991—G. G. Pope. Book Review of The Evolution of Homo erectus. (By R. P. Rightmire) in International Journal of Primatology 12(6): 637–638.

1990—G.G. Pope. The Facial Evidence for Regionalism in the Far Ease (Abstract). The University of Tokyo Symposium: The Evolution and Dispersal of Modern Humans in Asia. University Museum, The University of Tokyo: 31–33.

1990—G. G. Pope. The Fossil and Archaeological Evidence for Regional Continuity in East Asia (Abstract). 1990 Annual Meeting Abstracts. Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. New Orleans. p. 20.

1990—G. G. Pope. Book Review of Human Evolution, An Illustrated Introduction. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 82 (2): 235–236.

1990—G. G. Pope. An Zhisheng, S. Keates, and D. Bakken. New Discoveries in the Nihewan Basin, Northern China, The East Asia Tertiary/Quaternary Newsletter 11: 68–73.

1990—G. G. Pope and R. L. Bernor. A New Early Miocene Fauna from Northern Thailand. Journal of Human Evolution. 19: 811–815.

1990—G .G. Pope. Human Adaptation and Evolution in the Far East (Abstract). Fifty Years of Discovery: The Lubbock Lake Landmark International Symposium. p. 1.

1989—G. G. Pope. Regional Continuity in China. Abstracts of International Symposium on Paleoanthropology in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Discovery of the First Skull of Peking Man. Beijing. p. 111.

1989—G. G. Pope. Hominid Paleoenvironments in the Far East. In G. Giacobini (ed.) Hominidae. Proceedings of the Second International Congress of Human Paleontology. Turin, Italy. Milan: Editoriale Jaca Book, pp. 231–235.

1989—G. G. Pope. Comment on James. Current Anthropology 20 (1):18.

1989—G. G. Pope. Bamboo and Human Evolution. Natural History October: 48–57 Reprinted (1992–1993) In (E. Angeloni, Ed.) Physical Anthropology, Annual Editions. Dushkin Publishing Group, Guilford. pp. 162–166.

1989—G. G. Pope. Asian Homo erectus and the Emergence of Homo sapiens: An Alternative to Replacement Models. In: A. Sahni and R. Gaur (eds.). Perspectives in Human Evolution. Renaissance Publishing House. Delhi. pp. 23–31.

1988—M. Wolpoff, J. Sphuler, F. Smith, J. Radovic, G. Pope, D. Frayer, R. Eckhart, G. Clark. Modern Human Origins. (Letter) Science 24l: 773–777.

1988—G. G. Pope. Recent advances in Far Eastern paleoanthropology. Annual Reviews Anthropology 17: 43–77.

1988—G. G. Pope. In: I. Tattersall, E. Delson and J. Van Couvering (eds.). Encyclopedia of Prehistory and Paleoanthroplogy, New York, Garland Publishers. Articles: Asia p. 57–60; China p. l33; Chopper-Chopping Tools p. l33; Dingcun (Ting T’sun) p. 159; Djetis (Jetis) p. 159–160; Dragon Bones (and Teeth) p. 166; Gigantopithecus p. 226; Hexian p. 244; Indonesia p. 284; Jian Shi (Gao Ping) p. 291, Jinniu Shan (Yingkou) p. 291; Lantian p. 303 Liucheng p. 321; Meganthropus p. 334–335; Modjokerto p. 352; Movius’ Line p. 363; Narmada p. 365; Ngandong (Solo River) p. 383; Nihewan (Nihowan) Formation p. 383–384; Sambungmachan p. 503; Sangiran Dome p. 503–504; Stegodon-Ailuropoda Fauna p. 541; Thailand p. 579; Trinil p. 583 Xihoudu p. 601; Yuanmou p. 601–602; Zhoukoudian (Chou-kou-tien) p. 602–603.

1988—G. G. Pope. Current issues in Far Eastern Paleoanthropology. In P. Whyte, J.S. Aigner, East Asia from the Mid-Teritary. University of Hong Kong (Centre of Asian Studies). Vol. II: 1097–1123.

1988—G. G. Pope. (Abstract) New developments in Asian paleoanthropology. American Journal Physical Anthropology 75:257–258.

1988—G. G. Pope, S. Nakabanlang, and S. Pitragool. Le Paleolithique du Nord de la Thailande decouvertes et perspectives nouvelles. L’Anthropologie 91 (3): 749–754.

1987—G.G. Pope. Quaternary geology of the hominid fossil bearing formation in Java. Book Review. Journal of Human Evolution 15 (6): 514–5l5.

1986—G. G. Pope. The early evolution of man. Book Review, American Journal of Physical Anthropology 69 (1): 13.

1986—G. G. Pope. Evidence of Early Pleistocene hominid activity from Lampang, Northern Thailand. In: Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association 6:2–9.

1986—G. G. Pope. (Abstract) The chronology of the earliest Far Eastern Hominds. In: The Longest Record: The Human Career in Africa. Berkeley. pp. 68–70

1986—G. G. Pope, S. Barr, A. Mac Donald, and S. Nakabanlang. The earliest radiometrically dated artifacts from mainland Southeast Asia. Current Anthropology 27 (3): 275–279.

1985—G. G. Pope. Taxonomy, dating and paleoenvironment: The paleoecology of the early Far Eastern hominid. Modern Quaternary Research in Southeast Asia 9: 65–80.

1985—G. G. Pope. Paleoanthropological research in East Asia. The East Asian Tertiary/Quaternary Newsletter No. 2: 35–36.

1985—G. G. Pope. Introduction to Indonesia. U.S. Embassy (Jakarta). pp. 55.

1985—G. G. Pope. Early Paleolithic artifacts from Thailand. Anthroquest 33: 17–18.

1984—G. G. Pope. The Antiquity and Paleoenvironment of the Asian Hominids In: R. O. Whyte (ed.). The Evolution of the East Asian Environment, University of Hong Kong (Center of Asian Studies) Vol. II. 822–847.

1984—G. G. Pope. Social Biology, Toward a Bio-Cultural Paradigm. Media IKA 10: 89–115.

1984—G. G. Pope. Anthropologi Biologi (In Indonesian). Rajawali Press, Jakarta. pp. 275.

1984—G. G. Pope and J. E. Cronin. The Asian Hominidae. Journal of Human Evolution 13 (5): 377–396.

1983—G. G. Pope. Evidence on the Age of the Asian Hominidae. Proceedings. National Academy of Sciences (USA) 80: 4988–4992.

1982—G. G. Pope. The PAN (Physical Anthropology News) 1 (2): 1–3. Antiquity of the Asian Hominidae.

1982—G. G. Pope. Taphonomy, Biogeography and Paleoanthropology in Southeast Asia. Majalah Arkeologi (Journal of Archaeology) 4: 30–42.

1982—G. G. Pope. Applied Human Ecology. Archaeo-Ecology, and Human Evolutionary Biology. Lingkungan dan Pembangunan (Environment and Development) 2 (2): 131–141.

1981—G. G. Pope. Paleoanthropological Research at Kao Pah Nam, Northern Thailand. L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Newsletter 19:1–9.

1981—G. G. Pope 19, D. W. Frayer, M. Liangchareon, P. Kulasing. and S. Nakabanlang. Paleoanthropoligical Investigations of the Thai-American Expeditions in Northern Thailand (1978–1980): An Interim Report. Asian Perspectives 21: 148–163.

1977—G. G. Pope. Hominids from the Lower Pleistocene of South China. Kroeber Anthropological Society Papers 50 : 63–73.