WHOLE VOL. SKELETAL REMAINS OF EARLY MAN HRDLICKA 263 



THE BONES OF THE SKELETON 



In the study of the bones of the skeleton of La Chapelle the student 

 is seriously handicapped, on one hand, by the more or less defective 

 state of the remains, and on the other, by a lack of casts, with the 

 inability to use the originals. It is true that an excellent and detailed 

 description of the remains is given by the one in whose charge they 

 have been placed. Prof. Marcellin Boule ; but even he does not give 

 some of the important measurements, such for instance as the di- 

 ameters at the middle of the shaft of the long bones, while in other 

 cases he merges the measurements with those of other Neanderthal 

 skeletons so that they lose their individuality. Thanks to Professor 

 Boule the writer has been able to look over the originals, though 

 not to take any measurements. The lack of the casts is a most serious 

 disadvantage, and it is in the interests of human prehistory that it 

 be soon remedied. 



The following notes on the skeletal parts are largely after Pro- 

 fessor Boule.^ 



The dififerent parts of the skeleton are substantially related to those 

 of other Neanderthal remains, more particular to those of the skele- 

 tons Neanderthal, Spy No. 2 and the male La Ferrassie. 



The vertebrae. — The vertebral column of the man of La Chapelle 

 was short and stocky. All the vertebrae that remain are remarkable 

 for the low height of their bodies. Many of the vertebrae show some 

 senile marginal exostoses. The three cervical vertebrae with the 

 uppermost dorsal are remarkable for their nearly horizontal spines, 

 which is a simian character seldom approached in man of today. 

 The dorsal and lumbar vertebrae— all that remains of them— are 

 marked by the relative lowness of their bodies, and by various minor 

 peculiarities. In the lumbar region the vertebral canal is considerably 

 larger, relatively, than it is in present man. The articular facets of 

 the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, particularly in the 

 case of the first, are relatively large and flat. A portion of the first 

 sacral vertebra shows a large neural canal. Judging from what re- 

 mains of the sacrum the bone was rather narrow and straight. 



The ribs. The ribs are stout and their cross section is triangular 



and not flattened as it is in modern skeletons. This form indicates 

 the existence of powerful intercostal muscles. The curvatures of the 

 ribs, where shown, are less pronounced than in corresponding ribs 

 of the present time. 



'Mem., p. 106 ct seq. 



