Palaeoanthropology in the periphery. An introduction

Abstract

t was not easy to find a title for this dossier. Our search reflects the com- plexity of its topic. In the end we settled for: «Searching for Stones and Bones. Catalan Palaeontologists and human origins research in Spain». I will try to explain the components of this particular title. This dossier deals with Catalan scientists, principally Miquel Crusafont (1910-1983), Josep Gibert (1941-2007) and Eudald Carbonell (b. 1953). Yet their field work, their network and their impact on their discipline have gone well beyond Catalonia and encompassed Spain (and beyond). The adjective «Catalan» is meant to imply more than just a geographical denomination. It points to issues of national identity. Yet as we shall see, the researchers in question differ substantially in the way they consider themselves culturally and po- litically as Catalans (as something distinct from being Spanish).