Evening star., 1926-09-28
APE MANS SKULL DISCOVERED.
MAY BRIDGE EVOLUTION GAP
Continued from First Page.)

The nucleus of the skull collection
catalogued by Miss Tildesley was
formed by John Hunter. noted eight
eenth century surgeon and anatomist.
and is the pride Of British scientists.
The reported discovery by a Dutch
government physician at Trinil in
central Java of complete skull of
pithecanthropus erectus came out of
a clear sky to scientists of the Smith
sonian Institution today.
1t was characterized as 'astonish-
ing" and "epochal.
Efforts We're being planned to get in
touch with the Dutch colonial author
tiles to get further details concerning
what promises to be one Of the great
scientific finds of the time.
Since the discovery at Trinil of the
first skeletal vestiges of the strange
man-like ape in 1892 by DIR. Ernest
Dubois. also a Dutch government
physician, attached to the colonial
service, the graveyard of the race
was left practically undisturbed until
last Summer. ~ is very difficult of
access. 1t is a long distance from
civilization and researches can be
carried on there only at great labor
and considerable expense.
Local Scientists Visit.
Last Summer Dr. Ales Hrdlicka,
head Of the Department of Physical
Anthropology Of the Smithsonian In
stitution, made his way up the Solo
River and made a laborious search of
the area. DIR. Hrdlicka brought back
to Washington considerable collec-
ton OF animal bones from creatures
who were contemporaries of Pithecan-
thropus Erectus. but was unable to
find any prehuman bones.
DR.. Hrdlicka, however, came away
convinced that the fossil riches of the
place had only been scratched and
that more Pithecanthropus bones
were awaiting discovery. His work.
it was said today. doubtless spurred
tho Dutch scientists to renewed ef-
forts to follow up the work of Dubois,
but it is doubtful If the most optimis-
tic of them expected to find a COM
plete skull.
''If this discovery is authentic" said
DR.. Hrdlicka today-"and 1t appears
to bet certainly is the most impor
tant discovery in the field of physical
anthropology since Dubois original
discovery of the skull cap and thigh
bones Of Pithecanthropus. The dis
covery will enable us to learn a great
ture this was. No efforts should be
spared to obtain complete information
regarding the find"
Interest High i'm Capital.
The interest displayed in Washing
ton today was at least as great as
that displayed in London, where Sir
Arthur Keith. the greatest Of Eng
lish anthropologists,, cut short a va
cation to return to his office and wait
for further details. In the National
Museum here is an accurate plaster
cast Of the Pithecanthropus bones dis
covered by Dubois, which was obtained
by DIR. Hrdlicka last year when he
visited and spent several days with
the famous Dutch scientist.
Belief was expressed that Heberlein,
the reported discoverer, probably
would have been able to identify the
Pithecanthropus skull, and the inter
est in London was taken as further
evidence Of the authenticity of the
find
The interest and Importance of
Pithecanthropus Erectus lies in the
fact that it represents the fartliest
reach Of the genus homo, of which
man is the only living representative,
into antiquity. Pithecanthropus lived
approximately a half a million years
ago. between the quarternary and ter
tiary geological periods. He was not
a man nor a direct ancestor of man,
but biological cousin Of the human
race many degrees closer than any
of the manlike apes of today, such as
the gorilla or the chimpanzee. He is
described as one Of natures discard
ed experiments in making man.
Lacked Brain of Man.
He possessed by no means the brain
of man today, but he was far brain
ier creature than any of the apes
Probably his body was covered with
hair. He walked erect. probably had