WHOLE VOL. SKELETAL REMAINS OF EARLY MAN HRDLICKA I23 



tive levels occupied in the deposit by relying on the degree to which the bones 

 are mineralized. For example, the human remains, from the very lowest part of 

 the cave, are only slightly impregnated with ores of lead and zinc, whereas bones 

 of Hyaena and Wart Hog, from an unknown horizon, are so charged with 

 mineral matter that they give a clear note on being sharply struck. Secondly, it is 

 also well to remember that the African continental plateau is of extraordinary 

 stability, and that it has been a land area from very early times. Furthermore, 

 the climate has always been tropical or sub-tropical, at least to the south of 

 Egypt. Hence, apart from possible changes in the rainfall, conditions of life 

 have been comparatively fixed and the fauna is not likely to have altered in 

 character so rapidly as in other regions, Europe and North America for in- 

 stance, where great changes in the climate and geography have taken place in 

 comparatively recent times. For these reasons it is practically impossible at 

 present to estimate the age of African cave deposits by means of the fossil mam- 

 mals. The fact that two extinct forms are known proves nothing. It is becom- 

 ing ever more apparent that the mammal-bearing horizons of Central Africa are 

 not comparable in age with those of Europe, and that in dealing with them it is 

 useless to apply European standards. On the evidence of the associated mam- 

 malian fauna there is no reason to suppose that the human remains are of any- 

 thing but recent date. 



The bird remains, identified by Miss Bate, are few in number ; 

 " it is probable that all the remains represent species still found in 

 the locality." 



" The reptilian remains associated with the Rhodesian skull are 

 few in number and belong to species still existing in the locality." 

 (W. E. Swinton). 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SKULL AND TIBIA 



Since the British Museum has published its report on the Rhodesian 

 man, no objection can be had to an additional description. Thanks 

 to Dr. Smith Woodward and later to Dr. Bather, the writer has been 

 able repeatedly to examine and measure the originals (1922, 1923, 

 1927). The last measurements (Nov., 1927), to insure accuracy 

 and agreement, were made by well-tested instruments in the presence 

 of Messrs. Pycraft, Bather, and Hopwood of the British Museum, 

 and have been utilized by Mr. Pycraft. 



THE SKULL 



The skull is monstrous ; its frontal and most of the facial parts 

 exceed in prim.itiveness every other known specimen of early man. 

 The skullcap, on the other hand, from behind the frontal ridges is 

 of a decidedly higher grade equalling in many respects and in some 

 even exceeding those of the more typical Neanderthal crania. 



The subject was plainly a very powerful male, probably over 40 

 years of age. The skull is in no way pathological, though showing 



