WHOLE VOL. SKELETAL REMAINS OF EARLY MAN HRDLICKA 93 



The teeth of the Mauer jaw, however, are perfectly preserved, 

 and though large and provided with great roots and in various other 

 ways primitive, they are unquestionahly human teeth. They show 

 no crowding, no diasteniata. The lahial cusp of the anterior premolar 

 was decidedly pointed, the lingual cusp moderate. The teeth force 

 the conclusion that their possessor, while of heavy, protruding face, 

 huge muscles of mastication, wide and thick zygomatic arches, thick 

 skull, probably heavy brows, and possibly not yet quite erect posture, 

 had nevertheless already stepped over that line above which the being 

 could decisively be termed human. His food and his mode of life 

 were related to those of primitive man, and he was already far re- 

 moved from his primate ancestors with large canines. 



The writer will not enter into the minute anatomical details of the 

 specimen, which have been admirably brought out by Prof. Schoeten- 

 sack, but will give, in a succinct form, his personal observations on 

 the specimens. 



THE JAW 



The jaw is characterized by a negative chin, sloping very distinctly 

 backward from the vertical. 



The total vertical height of the jaw with its teeth, at the symphysis, 

 is 5.2 cm. ; in the normal condition of the teeth (without wear) it 

 would be about 5.4 cm. This height alone is not very remarkal>le and 

 could be matched or even exceeded in jaws of primitive races to-day.' 



A very peculiar condition is presented by the lower border of the 

 jaw anteriorly. This border is arched in a Cupid's bow, the maximum 

 elevation of which, above the horizontal, reaches 7 mm. on the right 

 and 6 mm. on the left side. Such an arching or " saddle " is not known 

 in any other jaw, ancient or recent. The arching extends to beneath 

 the mental foramina (which are uncommonly large), and passes into 

 a convexity of the lower border so that the corpus is highest at the 

 vertical drawn from the first molar. The height diminishes thence 

 backward in a gentle curve to about the middle of the ascending rami, 

 where it again increases. 



Viewed from below, the anterior arched portion of the body of the 

 jaw is not excessively massive, and presents no lingual shelf; but is 

 characterized by a marked bilateral oblong depression for the attach- 

 ment of the digastric muscles. The oblique line is stout and bulging, 

 and in proper light is seen to extend in a curve to the root of the 

 canine ; this is seen especially well on the left side. Lingually the 



* Compare writer's " The Anthropology of Florida," Fla. Hist. Soc, Deland, 

 Fla., 1922. 



