THE PEOPLING OF ASIA. 



(Plate VIII.) 



By ales HRDLICKA. 



(Read April 21, 1921.) 



The peopling of Asia, as may well be appreciated on reflection, 

 constitutes one of the greatest problems of anthropology. The 

 solution of this problem could not have been approached with any 

 great hope of success until lately, for it involves in no small degree 

 the peopling of the whole world. Even now many of the details are 

 lacking or obscure ; but through collateral as well as direct research 

 sufficient light, it seems, has by this time been obtained for the 

 possibilty of our attempting, with due reservations, of some general 

 deductions. 



It is quite certain that these deductions are bound to receive sub- 

 stantial modifications as anthropological knowledge of the Asiatic 

 countries and especially that of early man accumulates ; they can 

 for the present be little more than working hypotheses ; nevertheless, 

 what will be here outlined is supported by many facts of consider- 

 able weight. 



Looking at the subject of the peopling of Asia with due per- 

 spective, we may readily come to the first definite conclusion, which 

 is that the vast continent could not have been peopled either from 

 the north or the east ; and that consequently it could only have been 

 peopled from the south, southwest or west. From this it logically 

 follows that the eastern, central, northern and northeastern Asiatic 

 populations must have been ethnic extensions from other parts of 

 the continent. And as all these populations possess certain charac- 

 teristics in common which enable science to classify them as " mon- 

 goloid," it is further plain that they could not have come from 

 more than one direction or from more than one ancestral land or 

 source. 



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