A book like Seven Skeletons draws from myriad different fields and perspectives—I am much obliged for the feedback, conversations, suggestions, support, and enthusiasm that so many colleagues, experts, and friends have offered over the course of this project: Justin Adams, Stacey Ake, Lee Berger, Jan Ebbestad, Kevin Egan, Jan Freedman, Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Ronald Harvey, John Hawks, Charles D. Heim, Charles J. D. Heim, Lindsay Hunter, David Jones, William Jungers, Jon Kalb, John Kappelman, Linda Kim, Scott Knowles, Robert Kruszynski, Tanya Kulik, Kevin Kuykendall, Siu Kwan Lam, Kristi Lewton, Christopher Manias, Elizabeth Marima, John Mead, Nancy Odegaard, Sven Ouzman, Tammy Peters, Julien Riel-Salvatore, Sara Schechner, Karolyn Schindler, Shuk On Sham, Amy Slaton, Francis Thackery, Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Kirsten Vannix, Milford Wolpoff, and Bernhard Zipfel.
Additionally, many institutions have been kind enough to help facilitate the book’s research through interviews, access to archives, copies of publications, and/or financial support, including: The Appendix, Bone Clones, Natural History Museum (London), Pennoni Honors College (Drexel University), Science Photo and Science Source Library, Smithsonian Institution Archives, University of Texas at Austin Libraries, University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Historical Studies, University of the Witwatersrand (Archives), and Uppsala’s Museum of Evolution.
I am indebted to my agent, Geri Thoma, and editor, Melanie Tortoroli, for their interest in this project and their help in taking Seven Skeletons from “idea” to “book.” Holly Zemsta was kind enough to share her thoughts and feedback on many early drafts. My parents have always been excited to “talk fossils,” and I’m glad that these seven haven’t worn out their welcome. I am also most grateful to Stan Seibert for his unwavering optimism and enthusiasm for this project.