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for the assumption that man coexisted with the animals found 
in the diluvium ; and many a barbarous race may, before all 
historical time, have disappeared, together with the animals 
of the ancient world, whilst the races whose organization is 
improved have continued the genus. The bones which form 
the subject of this paper present characters which, although 
not decisive as regards a geological epoch, are, nevertheless, 
such as indicate a very high antiquity. It may also be re- 
marked that, common as is the occurrence of diluvial animal 
bones in the muddy deposits of caverns, such remains have 
not hitherto been met with in the caves of the Neanderthal ; 
and that the bones, which were covered by a deposit of 
mud not more than four or five feet thick, and without any 
protective covering of stalagmite, have retained the greatest 
part of their organic substance. 
These circumstances might be adduced against the proba- 
bility of a geological antiquity. Nor should we be justified 
in regarding the cranial conformation as perhaps representing 
the most savage primitive type of the human race, since 
crania exist among living savages, which, though not exhibit- 
ing such a remarkable conformation of the forehead, which 
gives the skull somewhat the aspect of that of the large apes, 
still in other respects, as for instance in the greater depth of 
the temporal fossz, the crest-like, prominent temporal ridges, 
and a generally less capacious cranial cavity, exhibit an equally 
low stage of development. There is no reason for supposing 
that the deep frontal hollow is due to any artificial flattening, 
such as is practised in various modes by barbarous nations in 
the Old and New World. The skull is quite symmetrical, 
and shows no indication of counter-pressure at the occiput, 
whilst, according to Morton, in the Flat-heads of the Columbia, 
the frontal and parietal bones are always unsymmetrical. Its 
conformation exhibits the sparing development of the anterior 
part of the head which has been so often observed in very 
ancient crania, and affords one of the most striking proofs of 
the influence of culture and civilization on the form of the 
human skull.” 
