The most ancient skeletal remains of man / by A. Hrdlička.

  • Alex Hrdlicka
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The most ancient skeletal remains of man / by A. Hrdlička. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/126 page 491
    THE MOST ANCIENT SKELETAL EEMAINS OF MAN. By Dr. A. HedliCka, Curator, Division of Physical Anthropology, U. S. National Museum. [With 41 plates and 12 figures.] Introduction. The early history of the human race, though merged in the dark- ness of ages, is step by step being traced and reconstructed; and apparently the time is drawing near when science will be able to announce, in the main at least, the definite solution of the profound and involved problem of man’s origin, when, in other words, it will be in a position to show, however imperfectly, when, where, and how man ascended from the lower orders. Actual research into the antiquity of mankind began considerably less than a century ago, and the more intensive investigations in this field cover hardly a generation. Such investigations have been fraught with many difficulties and are growing in complexity. They demand patient watchfulness, diligent and long-extended explora- tion, and considerable expense. The most careful attention must in every case be given to geological and paleontological evidence. And, after all, the net results of a prolonged quest may be no more than a few stone chips and implements, or perhaps a tooth, or a few badly crushed bones, belonging to human antiquity. But, as there are many hands at work, invaluable materials are accumulating. Besides this every now and then the search is more richly rewarded, or some important specimen is discovered accidentally; and every new, well-authenticated addition to the remains of early man or his predecessors, more particularly if it is a part of the skeleton, means a fresh, highly valuable document which throws supplementary light on the natural history of the human being. The explorations of recent years have been particularly fruitful. They were of wide extent geographically and have brought to science stores of primitive archeological remains, so that Avhole classes of ancient industries in stone could be determined; and they resulted in the recovery of example after example of well-authenticated
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