Description of different varieties of skulls and of human remains referable to the tenth century, obtained during recent excavations of a large sepulchral mound near Donnybrook, Co. Dublin / by William Frazer.

  • Frazer, William.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Description of different varieties of skulls and of human remains referable to the tenth century, obtained during recent excavations of a large sepulchral mound near Donnybrook, Co. Dublin / by William Frazer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    its measurements with the skulls belonging to the Croat,, different German tribes, and the Finlander. I believe its original possessor was one of the mixed people, who originally came from the shores of the Baltic, and whom we know in Irish History as Pirate or Black Danes. So far as the general facies is concerned, I think we may safely recognise two different and distinct types. One of these is straight faced or orthognathous ; the other pos- sesses a projecting upper jaw, which produces a progna- thous appearance. There is no difficulty in distinguish- ing well-marked specimens of both forms, but some appear with intermediate features. The skull marked 19 is an example of the orthogna- thous face, 22 is intermediate, 21 is prognathous. The little microcephalic skull, as I have already stated, is likewise prognathous. The degree of forward projec- tion of the upper jaw in any skull is ascertained by ob- taining the alveolar index, the formula for which is Whenever the ascertained index ranges below 980, the face must be classed as orthognathous. An index ranging from 980 to 1,030 is mesognathous, and all above 1,030 fall into the class of prognathous individuals. When these typical skulls are arranged beside each other, it is easy to see the great and striking differences they present in form, and in the aspect of their faces. In presenting this brief survey of the leading features of the Donnybrook discoveries, it appears unnecessary to enter more minutely into particular descriptions. I think we can amongst these skulls recognise some which fall under the Scandinavian type of Thurnam and Davis, and that, therefore, will correspond with numerous ex- amples of people still existing in our own land ; in Scot- land, and in the maritime districts of the East of England, where Danish settlers planted their numerous colonies. To quote the words of these accurate observers : “ The skull is small and regular, has a long slender elevated aquiline nose, closely corresponding with such as prevails in the northern counties of England where Scandinavian blood predominates. A narrow, long, orthognathous face, an upright square forehead, yet neither decidedly broad nor high, having a frontal suture, a long oval outline in the vertical aspect, with distinct parietal tubers, a globose