Susan C. Antón

Susan Antón is a biological anthropologist and paleoanthropologist who studies the anatomy and evolution of early members of the genus Homo. Her pioneering studies of cranial variation in Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis showed how cranial variation is due to both population (genetic) isolation and local adaptation, and that diet and chewing behavior determined the diversity of the overall lifestyles of these species. Her innovative studies of the dispersal dynamics of early Homo species showed that eclectic diets, high mobility, behavioral flexibility, and cohesive social organization contributed to the ability of early humans to move fast relative to other mammals.