Mary Marzke

Mary W. Marzke was an American anthropologist. Her research focuses on the evolution of the hominin hand.

Early life and education Mary Marzke was born Mary Walpole in Oakland, California. While in middle school and high school, ski trips with her family friends the McCowns sparked an interest in anthropology as both Professor and Mrs. McCown were physical anthropologists. Professor McCown later went on to serve as one of her Ph.D. supervisors. In 1959, she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an A.B. in Anthropology. Following this, she attained her M.A. in anthropology from Columbia University in New York in 1961.

In 2000, Markze conducted a morphological and biomechanical analysis of the early hominin hand found at Olduvai Gorge. Markze's research also addressed “the potential of fossil hominid hands for one-handed firm precision grips and fine precision manoeuvering movements, both of which are essential for habitual and effective tool making and tool use.” In 2008, Markze's research concluded that "further derived changes to the hands of other hominins such as modern humans and Neandertals did not evolve until after 2.5 Ma and possibly even later than 1.5 Ma." Markze also pioneered the use of 3DGM methods to investigate the evolutionary history of the carpal bones of the hand.

She has appeared on the PBS show Scientific American Frontiers in 2000 in the episode "Life's Really Big Questions".