The Washington herald., 1921-05-29

Attempt at q restoration of the skull
of the Pithecanthropus Erectus
bones of the pithecanthropus. The contours
of the teeth and femur were sharp, indi-
eating that they had not been washed or
rolled about to any great extent. but the
skull cap showed the effects of erosion. prob
ably caused BY acidulous water seepins
through the deposits.
All indications and a detailed study Of the
specimens led to the conclusions, first. that
the four skeletal pieces were contempors-
neous; second. they were Of the age Of the
stratum in which they were found; third,
they belonged to one skeleton; and fourth.
they represent q transitional form of beings
between the anthropoid apes and man, be-
longing to the direct line in the genealogy Of
the latter.
In most respects the pithecanthropus
skull specimen differs more or less from the
ordinary human skull Of today, as well as
from those of early man, and approaches
correspondinsly the crania of the anthro-
poid apes. The whole remnant presents
rather subdued forms, such rs would more
readily be expected in a female than in q
male being at that stage of evolution The
walls of the skull are Of only moderate
thickness; its internal capacity has been
estimated at 300 cubic centimeters The
capacity Of an average Uranium of q white
American would amount in the male to
about 1900, in the female to about 1850
cubic centimeters, while in the largest living
anthropoid apes it only rarely attains or
exceeds 900 cubic centimeters. I
The impression which comprehensive
study of the whole skull cap carries to the
observer, according to DR.. Aies Hrdlicka,
curator of the division of physical anthro-
pology at the Smithsonian Institution In
Washington, is that it represents q hitherto
unknown primate form, which, whatever it
may be eventually identified with and
whether or not mans direct ancestor, stands
morphologically between man and the known
anthropoid apes, fills an important space in
the hitherto existing large void between the
two and constitutes a precious document for
the natural history of man.
One of the oldest and thoroughly authen-
ticated skeletal relics so far discovered at
tributable to q primitive human being is the
specimen known as the Mauer Jaw. This
bone, dug up near the village Of Mauer, six
miles from Heidelberg, is considerably larger
and stouter than any other known human
jaw, and the total of the characteristics are
such that, had the teeth been lost, it would
surely have been regarded as the mandible
of some large ape rather than that of any
human being.
- e.
perfectly preserved, and though large and
provided with great roots and in various
other ways primitive, they are unquestion-
ably human teeth. They force the conciu-
sion that their possessor. while having q
heavy, protruding face. huge muscles Of
mastication, thick skull, probably heavy
brows, and possibly not yet quite erect pos
ture, had nevertheless already stepped over
that line above which the being coild be
termed human. His food and proba oily bis
mode Of life were related to those Of primi-
tive man, and he was already far removed
from his primitive ancestors With large
CANNES.
The most famous Of the skeietal remains
representing early man are unquestionably
the imperfect but highly characteristic>speci.
mems known as the Neanderthal skull and
bones. This important find more than any
other has aroused scientific men to intense
realization of the earlier phases of human
evolution. The skull and to some extent
also the other parts Of the skeleton stand
morphologically far below those of any exist
ing type of man, being correspondingly
nearer to the ancient primates; and their
name hns been taken to designate the entire
early phase of mankind of which the skele-
ton is q prototype. >
The skull, with other parts Of the skeIe-
ton. was dug out accidentally In the entrance
to the Neanderthal gorge, in westphalia,
western Germany. After careful examina-
ton and study, scientistsseoncluded that the
extraordinary form Of the skull was due
to natural conformation. hitherto not
known to exist even in the most barbarous
races, that the remains belonged to period
anteeedent to the time Of the Celts and Ger
mans and were in all probability derived
from one Of The Wild races of northwestern
Europe spoken Of By Latin wrieers, and
tAa: the relies uhdouoredly were traeeabls