Consciousness in Four Dimensions: Biological Relativity and the Origins of Thought

Front Matter....Pages i-x
Front Matter....Pages 23-23
Setting the Scene: Milestones in the Search for Early Life on Earth....Pages 1-19
What Can We Expect to Find in the Earliest Rock Record?....Pages 24-33
The Difficulties of Decoding Early Life....Pages 35-45
Establishing the Criteria for Early Life on Earth....Pages 47-53
Fulfilling the Criteria for Early Life on Earth....Pages 55-86
Techniques for Investigating Early Life on Earth....Pages 87-123
Front Matter....Pages 125-126
> 3,700 Ma Isua Supracrustal Belt and Akilia Island, S.W. Greenland....Pages 127-133
˜3,490 Ma Dresser Formation, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 135-149
~3,470 Ma Mount Ada Basalt, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 151-154
~3,460 Ma Apex Basalt, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 155-159
~3,450 Ma, Hoogenoeg Formation, Barberton, South Africa....Pages 161-174
~3,450 Ma, Panorama Formation, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 175-179
˜3,426–3,350 Ma, Strelley Pool Formation, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 181-197
∼3,416–3,334 Ma, Kromberg Formation, Barberton, South Africa....Pages 199-208
~3,350 Ma, Euro Basalt, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 209-213
~3,250 Ma, Fig Tree Group, Barberton, South Africa....Pages 215-219
~3,240 Ma, Kangaroo Caves Formation, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 221-227
~3,200 Ma, Moodies Group, Barberton, South Africa....Pages 229-233
~3,200 Ma, Dixon Island Formation, Cleaverville Greenstone Belt, West Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 235-240
~3,000 Ma, Cleaverville Formation, Cleaverville Greenstone Belt, West Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 241-243
Front Matter....Pages 125-126
~3,000 Ma, Farrel Quartzite, East Pilbara, Western Australia....Pages 245-250
THE IMPOSTERS: Younger Biological Contaminants and Non-Biological Artefacts....Pages 251-266
Erratum to....Pages 267-267
Back Matter....Pages 267-274