Prehistoric man / by W.L.H. Duckworth.

  • Duckworth, W. L. H. (Wynfrid Laurence Henry), 1870-1956.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Prehistoric man / by W.L.H. Duckworth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the head (Fig. 1). And the results of many tests of this kind, applied not only by Professor Dubois but also by Professor Schwalbe, are confirmatory of the ‘ intermediate ’ position claimed foi* Pithecan- thropus erectus. The molar teeth are of inadequate size if the skull-cap is that of an ape, whereas they are slightly larger than the corresponding teeth furnished by primitive existing human types. And now some of the objections to this account may be taken. In the first place, the claim to Pliocene antiquity is contested. So keen an interest was excited by Professor Dubois’ discovery that more than one expedition has been disi)atched to survey and review the ground. It is now declared in certain quarters that the horizon is lower Quaternary : I do not know that any attempt has been made to reduce the age of the strata further. As the matter stands, the difference is not very material, but Professor Dubois refuses to accei)t the revised estimate and still adheres to his own determination. Incidentally the more recent work (Blanckenhorn^, 1910) has resulted in the discovery of a tooth claimed as definitely human (this is not the case with the teeth of Pithecanthrojnis erectus), and yet of an antiquity surpassing that of the remains found by Professor Dubois. The latter appears unconvinced as to the genuineness of the find, but no doubt the case will be fully discussed in publica- tions now in the course of preparation.