36 BAR ROW- DIGGING AT MARTINSTOWN. 



The Skull. In general form it is long and narrow in respect to both the 

 calvarial portion, or that portion which covers in the brain, and therefore, in 

 popular language, termed the brain-case, and the facial portion. The condition 

 of metopism, that is, of persistence of the mesial frontal suture, which is usually 

 obliterated at an early stage of life by complete fusion of the two halves of the 

 frontal bone, is present and is well marked. There is considerable asymmetry of 

 the calvarium readily noticeable when viewed from above. The left half of the 

 frontal is prominent, especially above the middle and inner third of the left orbit, 

 while the right half falls away, or recedes. Behind, the right half of the 

 occipital bone is bulging backwards, while the left half is less prominent. This 

 obliquity extends to the parietal bones also, and shows itself by the line of the 

 sagittal suture slanting somewhat from right to left as it is traced backwards 

 from the bregma. It is very probable that the asymmetry is due to post mortem 

 pressure upon the skull as it lay in the soil in a more or less damp and softened 

 condition. The ridges for the attachments of muscles are feebly developed, and 

 the surface of the bone generally has a smooth appearance. The orbital 

 processes and the mastoids are small and little developed ; the glabella and supra- 

 orbital region, excluding the irregularity due to asymmetry, are moderately 

 prominent; the upper edges of the orbits are thin and sharp. The parietal 

 eminences are not prominent, but there is a want of combined fulness and 

 roundness about this region which is at once noticeable. The sutures are open 

 and simple, and there are a few small wormean bones present in the parieto- 

 occipital suture. While the ridges on the under surface of the occipital are 

 feebly developed and in harmony with those on the other parts of the calvaria, 

 the bone in the region of the foramen magnum is thick, especially at the edges of 

 the foramen, which itself is particularly long and narrow. The basilar suture is 

 open. The facial portion is in general form long and narrow, as is indicated by 

 the facial indices given below being high. The nasal opening is narrow, but 

 owing to the broken condition of the specimen the nasal height could not be 

 sufficiently accurately ascertained on a short measurement such as it is to warrant 

 a statement of the nasal index. The orbits also are imperfect. Viewed from the 

 side the profile is straight, the alveolar region showing no prognathism as is 

 indicated by that index and the palato- maxillary index. The lower jaw is feeble, 

 and the gonial angle (that formed by the horizontal and ascending rami) is obtuse ; 

 the chin is pointed and well formed. The incisor teeth are well developed and 

 sound ; the last molars have not appeared above their formative cavities in the 

 mandible, but are just showing on the surface in the maxillae. The premolars 

 and first two molars show no signs of wear, and are comparatively of small size. 



The skull is light and has been broken in many places, and although it has been 

 skilfully restored by Mr. Gray the following measurements are in some cases not 

 always absolutely exact, though sufficiently accurate, perhaps, for practical 

 descriptive purposes : 



1. Antero-posterior median length (max.) . . 196 mm. 



2. Transverse breadth (max.) . . . . 140 



