THE MOST ANCIENT SKELETAL REMAINS OF MAN. 



By Dr. A. HedliCka, 

 Curator, Division of Physical Anthropology, U. 8. National Museum. 



[With 41 plates and 12 figures.] 

 Introduction. 



The early history of the human race, though merged in the dark- 

 ness of ages, is step by step being traced and reconstructed; and 

 apparently the time is drawing near when science will be able to 

 announce, in the main at least, the dejBnite solution of the profound 

 and involved problem of man's origin, when, in other words, it will 

 be in a position to show, however imperfectly, when, where, and 

 how man ascended from the lower orders. 



Actual research into the antiquity of mankind began considerably 

 less than a century ago, and the more intensive investigations in this 

 field cover hardly a generation. Such investigations have been 

 fraught with many difficulties and are growing in complexity. They 

 demand patient watchfulness, diligent and long-extended explora- 

 tion, and considerable expense. The most careful attention must in 

 every case be given to geological and paleontological evidence. 

 And, after all, the net results of a prolonged quest may be no more 

 than a few stone chips and implements, or perhaps a tooth, or a few 

 badly crushed bones, belonging to human antiquity. But, as there 

 are many hands at work, invaluable materials are accumulating. 

 Besides this every now and then the search is more richly rewarded, 

 or some important specimen is discovered accidentally; and every 

 new, well- authenticated addition to the remains of early man or his 

 predecessors, more particularly if it is a part of the skeleton, means 

 a fresh, highly valuable document which throws supplementary light 

 on the natural history of the human being. 



The explorations of recent years have been particularly fruitful. 

 They were of wide extent geographically and have brought to science 

 stores of primitive archeological remains, so that whole classes of 

 ancient industries in stone could be determined; and they resulted 

 in the recovery of example after example of well-authenticated 



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