Studies in Irish craniology (Aran Islands, Co. Galway) : a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy, December 12, 1892 / by A.C. Haddon.

  • Haddon, Alfred C. (Alfred Cort), 1855-1940.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Studies in Irish craniology (Aran Islands, Co. Galway) : a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy, December 12, 1892 / by A.C. Haddon. 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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    Islands. The present communication deals solely with what infor- mation is available as to their craniology. The material consists of two skulls from Innishmaan (Hos. 49 and 50) in the Grattan Collection, and of another (T.C.D.) from Aranmore which I have presented to the Anthropological Museum in Trinity College. Three fragmentary crania (A, B, and C) were measured by Dr. Browne and myself in Tempul Brecain, Onaght (‘Seven Churches’), Aranmore, and Dr. Beddoe gives some measurements of four skulls which “ were found in the dry sand which has gathered within the small and ancient church of St. Eneay, Aranmore” {l.c. p. 229). He gives the total measure- ments in a table on p. 227, as follows:—“Glab.—max. length, 7’53 ; max. breadth, 5'59 ; basio-bregm. height, ? 5'27 ; latit. index, 74*25; altit. index, 70?.” Dr. Beddoe has very kindly permitted me to extract the following details from his ms. notes made on the occasion of his visit to Aranmore in 1861. I have reduced these measurements to millimetres, and have added their cephalic indices within brackets. “Ho. 1. L., 7^; B., 5^; forehead breadth, 3|-; height, 5 inches (internal from level of mastoid). [L., 183 mm.; B., 140 mm.; C. I., 76-1.] “Ho. 2. L., 7f; B., 5f; height as before, 5J. [L., 194 mm.; B., 143 mm. ; C. I., 73*7.] “Ho. 3. L., B., 5J. [L., 183 mm.; B., 140 mm.; C. I., 76-1.] “ Ho. 4. L., 7|-; B., 5|-; height, 5f. [L., 197 mm.; B., 146 mm.; C.I., 74-1.] “ Another imperfect one is 6 inches broad, length not ascertainable.”. A sketch by Beddoe of the norma verticalis is very similar to that of the T.C.D. specimen. Two skulls were collected by Dr. Beddoe on this occasion and pre- sented by him to Dr. Barnard Davis, and they are described as follows in the ‘ Thesaurus Craniorum.’ Probably neither of these two were included among the preceding four measurements :— “ 208.—842 ; Irish ? , set. c. 30. Imperf. calv. Has a frontal suture. Erom Teampull Brecain, Aara Mor or Great Aran Isle.” “209.—843, Irish s of advanced age. Imperf. calv. The sutures are almost wholly obliterated in this heavy calvarium. From Kil- leany or St. Eney’s Church, Aranmore. These graveyards of the Aran Isles are regarded by Sir W. E. Wilde, the distinguished Irish antiquary, as ‘ very early,’ and the crania derived from them ‘ as very ancient skulls.’ ”