# Chris Stringer

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British physical anthropologist (b. 1947)

For the former professional football player, see [Chris Stringer (footballer)](/source/Chris_Stringer_(footballer)).

Chris Stringer Stringer in 2012 Born London, United Kingdom Alma mater University College London Bristol University Scientific career Institutions Natural History Museum, London Thesis A multivariate study of cranial variation in middle and upper Pleistocene human populations (1974) Doctoral advisor Jonathan H. Musgrave

**Christopher Brian Stringer** [CBE](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) [FRS](/source/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Society) is a British [physical anthropologist](/source/Physical_anthropologist) noted for his work on human evolution.

## Biography

Growing up in a working-class family in the [East End of London](/source/East_End_of_London), Stringer first took an interest in anthropology during primary school, when he undertook a project on [Neanderthals](/source/Neanderthals).[1] Stringer studied anthropology at [University College London](/source/University_College_London),[2] holds a PhD in Anatomical Science and a DSc in Anatomical Science (both from [Bristol University](/source/Bristol_University)).[3]

Stringer joined the permanent staff of the [Natural History Museum](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_London) in 1973. He is currently Research Leader in Human Origins.

## Research

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Stringer was previously one of the leading proponents of the [recent African origin hypothesis](/source/Recent_African_origin_hypothesis) or ″Out of Africa″ theory, which hypothesizes that modern humans originated in Africa over 100,000 years ago and replaced, in some way, the world's archaic humans, such as *[Homo floresiensis](/source/Homo_floresiensis)* and [Neanderthals](/source/Neanderthal), after migrating within and then out of Africa to the non-African world within the last 50,000 to 100,000 years.[4] He always considered that some interbreeding between the different groups could have occurred, but thought this would have been trivial in the big picture. However, recent genetic data show that the replacement process did include some interbreeding. In the last decade he has proposed a more complex version of events within Africa, which he has termed ″multiregional African origin″.

He also directed the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project which ran for about 10 years from 2001. This consortium reconstructed and studied the episodic pattern of human colonisation of Britain during the Pleistocene. He is co-director of the follow-up project "Pathways to Ancient Britain".[5]

## Honours

He is a [Fellow of the Royal Society](/source/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Society) and Honorary Fellow of the [Society of Antiquaries](/source/Society_of_Antiquaries_of_London). He won the 2008 [Frink Medal](/source/Frink_Medal) of the [Zoological Society of London](/source/Zoological_Society_of_London) and the [Rivers Memorial Medal](/source/Royal_Anthropological_Institute_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland#Rivers_Memorial_Medal) from the Royal Anthropological Institute in 2004.[6]

He was elected a Member of the [American Philosophical Society](/source/American_Philosophical_Society) in 2019.

Stringer was appointed [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (CBE) in the [2023 New Year Honours](/source/2023_New_Year_Honours) for services to the understanding of human evolution.[7]

## Publications

### Papers

- Stringer, Chris; Andrews, Peter (1988). "Genetic and Fossil Evidence for the Origin of Modern Humans". *Science*. **239** (4845): 1263–1268. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1988Sci...239.1263S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988Sci...239.1263S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1126/science.3125610](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.3125610). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [3125610](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3125610).

- Stringer, Chris (2002). ["Modern human origins – progress and prospects"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1692961). *[Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B](/source/Philosophical_Transactions_of_the_Royal_Society_B)*. **357** (1420): 563–579. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rstb.2001.1057](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frstb.2001.1057). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [1692961](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1692961). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12028792](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12028792).

- Stringer, Chris (2022). ["The development of ideas about a recent African origin for Homo sapiens"](https://www.isita-org.com/jass/Contents/2022vol100/Stringer/36511798.pdf) (PDF). *[Journal of Anthropological Sciences](/source/Journal_of_Anthropological_Sciences)*. **100** (100): 5–18. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4436/jass.10009](https://doi.org/10.4436%2Fjass.10009). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [36511798](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36511798).

### Books

- Stringer, Chris, ed. (1981). *Aspects of human evolution: Symposium on human evolution, January 1980*. London: Taylor & Francis. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85066-209-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85066-209-5).

- Stringer, Chris (1986). "The credibility of *Homo habilis*". In Wood, Bernard A.; Martin, Lawrence B.; Andrews, Peter (eds.). *Major topics in primate and human evolution*. Cambridge University Press. p. 266. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-11338-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-11338-0).

- Stringer, Chris (1989). "Neandertals, their contemporaries and modern human origins". In Giacobini, Giacomo (ed.). [*Hominidae: Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress of Human Paleontology. Turin, September 28 – October 3, 1987*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wTnWJGnBwgUC&q=Giacobini+Hominidae). Editoriale Jaca Book. pp. 351–356. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [88-16-28026-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/88-16-28026-3).

- Andrews, Peter; Stringer, Chris (1989). [*Human Evolution: An Illustrated Guide*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Ke7_cl6tQ1EC&q=%22Chris+Stringer%22). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-38824-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-38824-4).

- Mellars, Paul; Stringer, Chris, eds. (1989). *The Human Revolution: Behavioural and Biological Perspectives on the Origins of Modern Humans*. Princeton University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-691-08539-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-08539-5).

- Stringer, Chris; McKie, Robin (1997). [*African Exodus. The Origins of Modern Humanity*](https://archive.org/details/africanexodusori00stri). New York: Henry Holt. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8050-2759-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8050-2759-9).

- Stringer, Chris; Barton, R.N.E.; Finlayson, J.C., eds. (2000). *Neanderthals on the Edge: Papers from a Conference Marking the 150th Anniversary of the Forbes' Quarry Discovery, Gibraltar*. Oxford: Oxbow Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84217-015-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84217-015-1).

- "Introduction to the fiftieth anniversary edition of The Piltdown Forgery" (pp. vii–x | and "Afterword: Piltdown 2003" (pp. 188–201). In *The Piltdown Forgery* By J. S. Weiner (2003) Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-860780-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-860780-6)

- Stringer, Chris; Andrews, Peter (2005). *The Complete World of Human Evolution*. London & New York: Thames & Hudson..[8] [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-500-05132-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-500-05132-1)

- Stringer, Chris (2007). [*Homo britannicus. The Incredible Story of Human Life in Britain*](https://archive.org/details/homobritannicus00chri). London: Penguin. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-14-101813-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-101813-3).[9]

- Stringer, Chris (2011). *The Origin of Our Species*. London: Allen Lane. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84614-140-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84614-140-9)., published in the United States in 2012 retitled as [*Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth*](https://archive.org/details/lonesurvivorshow0000stri). London: Times Books. 13 March 2012. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0805088915](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0805088915).

## See also

- [Happisburgh footprints](/source/Happisburgh_footprints)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Ryan, Hannah F. ["Professor Chris Stringer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161013080326/http://www.ijsra.org/interview-chris-stringer). *International Journal of Student Research in Archaeology*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ijsra.org/interview-chris-stringer) on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Stringer, C. (2006), *Homo britannicus*, p. 183, London: Penguin Books, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-14-101813-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-14-101813-3)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [University of Bristol Alumni – Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences](http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/featured/mv-sciences/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120328094336/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/featured/mv-sciences/) 28 March 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Eiland, Murray (2020). ["Out of Africa, Neanderthals, and Mitochondrial Eve"](https://www.academia.edu/89136731). *Antiqvvs*. **2** (2). Interview with Chris Stringer: 39–42.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Chris Stringer's Home Page at Natural History Museum](http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/staff-directory/chris-stringer.html#sthash.DhQkUbBm.dpuf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [List of recipients of Rivers Memorial medal](http://www.therai.org.uk/awards/honours-prior-recipients/rivers-memorial-medal-prior-recipients/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["No. 63918"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63918/supplement/N11). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Complete World of Human Evolution"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060620142213/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-centre/publishing/det_humevol.html). The Natural History Museum. Archived from [the original](http://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-centre/publishing/det_humevol.html) on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Stringer wins Kistler Book Award"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090725005136/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2008/march/stringer-wins-kistler-book-award.html). The Natural History Museum. 13 March 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2008/march/stringer-wins-kistler-book-award.html) on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.

## External links

- [Prof Chris Stringer's Home Page at Natural History Museum](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/staff-directory/chris-stringer.html)

- [Natural History Museum Homo britannicus news (11 October 2006)](https://web.archive.org/web/20120802170634/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2006/october/news_9663.html)

- [AHOB Home Page](http://www.ahobproject.org/)

- [World Land Trust Supporter news (Wednesday, 25 June 2008)](https://web.archive.org/web/20140118135909/http://www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2008/06/expert-on-human-origins-donates-prize.htm)

- [Homo britannicus Archaeology award (13 November 2008)](https://web.archive.org/web/20130107065945/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2008/november/stringers-homo-britannicus-book-wins-award23505.html)

- [RESET Project](http://c14.arch.ox.ac.uk/reset/embed.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110929032035/http://c14.arch.ox.ac.uk/reset/embed.php) 29 September 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Human Evolution book news (19 May 2005)](https://web.archive.org/web/20121011125500/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2005/may/news_4850.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chris Stringer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Stringer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Stringer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.