in THE NEANDERTHAL MAN. 177 



tinued the genus. The bones which form the subject of 

 this paper present characters which, although not decisive 

 as regards a geological epoch, are, nevertheless, such as 

 indicate a very high antiquity. It may also be remarked 

 that, common as is the occurrence of diluvial animal bones 

 in the muddy deposits of caverns, such remains have not 

 hitherto been met with in the caves of the Neanderthal; 

 and that the bones, which were covered by a deposit of 

 mud not more than four or five feet thick, and without 

 any protective covering of stalagmite, have retained the 

 greatest part of their organic substance. 



" These circumstances might be adduced against the 

 probability of a geological antiquity. Nor should we be 

 justified in regarding the cranial conformation as perhaps 

 representing the most savage primitive type of the human 

 race, since crania exist among living savages, which, 

 though not exhibiting such a remarkable conformation of 

 the forehead, which gives the skull somewhat the aspect 

 of that of the large apes, still in other respects, as for in- 

 stance in the greater depth of the temporal fossae, the 

 crest-like, prominent temporal ridges, and a generally less 

 capacious cranial cavity, exhibit an equally low stage of 

 development. There is no reason for supposing that the 

 deep frontal hollow is due to any artificial flattening, such 

 as is practised in various modes by barbarous nations in 

 the Old and New World. The skull is quite symmetrical, 

 and shows no indication of counter-pressure at the occi- 

 put, whilst, according to Morton, in the Flat-heads of the 

 Columbia, the frontal and parietal bones are always un- 

 symmetrical. Its conformation exhibits the sparing de- 

 velopment of the anterior part of the head which has 

 been so often observed in very ancient crania, and affords 

 one of the most striking proofs of the influence of culture 

 and civilization on the form of the human skull." 



In a subsequent passage, Dr. Sehaaffhausen re- 

 marks: 



176 



