CMS 



Figure 3: Artificial plaster endocast of Australopithecus boisei (Olduvai 

 hominid 5). The portion of the endocast between the two wavy lines 

 in front has been restored, as the bony wall of the vault was missing 

 in this region. The outline of the parietal bone has been drawn on 

 the endocast. 



We may have a natural endocranial cast formed as a result of the braincase 

 becoming filled with sand or other matrix, which in turn becomes con- 

 solidated by some such impregnating medium as lime (Figure 1). This is 

 likely to occur wherever fossils are preserved in dolomitic limestone cave 

 deposits, and it is true of several of the South African deposits, such as 

 Taung, Sterkfontein, and Swartkrans, containing remains of the early 

 hominid, the ape-man Australopithecus. 



In other situations the braincase may have failed to fill with matrix 

 after death, and we are presented with an empty cranium (Figure 2). Under 

 these circumstances, with no supporting material inside the braincase, the 

 cranium is frequently found broken or crushed. From an intact braincase, 

 or from a reconstruction of one, it is possible to make an artificial endocast 

 with plaster of Paris or some other medium such as gelatin (Zuckerman 

 1928) or latex (Radinsky 1968). This has been done, for instance, with the 

 early hominid crania we have assigned to Australopithecus boisei (Tobias 



% 4 



