-54.45% = 667.4 c.c. 



56.54% = 642.7c.c. 



364 c.c. 

 Figure 17: The biparietal partial endocast of Olduvai hominid 7 (type 

 specimen of Homo habilis), with outside values for the range of esti- 

 mates of the total capacity. The figure of 54.45 per cent is based on 

 Australopithecus boisei; that of 56.54 per cent is based on the Taung 

 endocast of Australopithecus africanus. Percentages for the Trinil and 

 Choukoutien II specimens lay between these 2 values. The central value 

 for Olduvai hominid 7 is 657 c.c. and the estimate for the "adult value" 

 684 c.c. 



struction yielded 5 values ranging from 362 to 364 c.c, with a mean of 

 363.6 c.c; the endocast based on the second reconstruction yielded 5 values 

 ranging from 362 to 365 c.c, with a mean of 363.4 c.c. 



The validity of the method was demonstrated entirely independently 

 by Dr. R. L. Holloway, working in the Anthropology Department of Colum- 

 bia University, New York City. His work answered the criticism (voiced, for 

 example, by Pilbeam and Simons 1965 *) that any variation in the angle 

 between the 2 parietals would seriously affect the volume of the space 

 enclosed beneath them. His experiments led him to state: 



It is immediately apparent that variations in the articulation angle along the 

 suture do not radically reduce volume estimates. In varying the articulation angle, 

 the decrease essentially affects but one dimension, that is, the lateral breadth. At 



* For example: "The slightest mis-setting of the two at the midline, for instance if flared too 

 much laterally, would markedly increase the brain volume estimate for this individual" (Pilbeam 

 and Simons 1965, p. 250). 



65 K 



