STONE FORT AND OTHER ABORIGINAL REMAINS 117 



reference to the cranium (tliis position being indicated by the ratio of the distance 

 comprised between two phxmb lines, one dropping through tlie foramen and touching 

 the anterior border, and the other touching the most prominent part of the occiput, 

 to tlie long diameter of the cranium proper, taken as 100), arrived at tlie following 

 results: While there is an actual ditference in the position of the foramen magnum 

 in the races compared, it is quite small when compared with the difference between 

 the human species and the apes. Contrary to Scemmering's assertion, the negro does 

 not make the nearest approach to the latter ; on the other hand, although the negro 

 cranium does not precisely agree with that of the white race, as stated by Prit- 

 chard, it very nearly approaches it, and it is the North American Indian which has 

 the largest index. 



The position of the foramen magnum is very different in the young and in the adult 

 apes ; the former approucliing much nearer to the human race than the latter. 

 Professor Wyman has pointed out other striking resemblances between tlie cranium 

 of the young Gorilla and that of the adult man, which are much diminished as 

 age advances. 



I have carefully examined the position of the foramen magnum in the crania 

 of the stone-grave and mound-building race of Tennessee, and have arrived at 

 results similar to those first recorded by Daubenton,' Prichard,- and Wyman, 

 namely: that these crania have a lower index of the foramen magnum than those 

 of the other races. 



I have, however, after comparative examinations of crania variously altered by 

 artificial compression, arrived at tlie conclusion that tliis peculiarity of the crania 

 of the stone-grave race is, in great measure if not wholly, due to the effects of arti- 

 ficial pressure in flattening the occiput. Any flattening of the occiput would neces- 

 sarily render the distance from its comparatively perpendicular wall to the ant(n'ior 

 border less than in crania presenting tlie normal convex surface of the occiput. It 

 appears to be evident, however, that such alteration of the index of the foramen 

 magnum as is induced by artificial flattening of the occiput during childhood would 

 not necessarily alter the position of the spinal cord relatively to the mass of the 

 brain ; since what is lost in length is gained in the height of the cranium, as is 

 evident by the cranial measurements. 



It is but reasonable to suppose that the index of the foramen magnum would be 

 less in all those American tribes which still adhere to the practice of binding the 

 child in its small cradle, with the head resting for months in the same position, 

 upon the occiput, and pressed against a hard surface. I have observed the efl'ects 

 of pressure in flattening the occiput, in white infants who, during protracted illness, 

 have lain long in one position. 



This fact, therefore, as far as my observations extend, simply illustrates the 

 effects of pressure in altering the relative position of the foramen magnum, in the 

 stone-grave crania of Tennessee, and should not be cited as a peculiarity of this 

 race. 



■ Sur la Difference du Grand Trou Occipital dans I'Honinie et dans les autres Animaux. Mcmoires 

 de I'Acad. des Sciences, 1764. 



* Researches into tlie Physical History of Man, 1S51, vol, i, p. 285. 



