28 THE PROBLEM OF ANTIQUITY OF MAN IN AUSTRALIA 
teeth there are, in conjunction with the most primitive characters 
found in modern skulls, others more ape-like than have been 
observed in any living or extinct race, except Eoanthropus. 
Burkitt (1928) concluded that the position and facetting of the 
canine tecth fall into line with those of modern aboriginals, but 
that the teeth anterior to the molars are more primitive, especially 
in size; and that Stewart Smith’s conclusions regarding the 
primitive character of the palate remain unaltered. He said that 
the palate of the Talgai skull with unerupted wisdom teeth is as 
large as the palate of the average modern adult male aboriginal 
with the full complement of molar teeth. 
Campbell (1925) remarked that measurements of the teeth of 
the Talgai youth are greater than average measurements of corre- 
sponding teeth of modern aboriginals, but, with few exceptions, 
all lie within the extreme range. 
Wood Jones (1934 a) published dioptrographic drawings of 
the palates of a large modern aboriginal skull from Wentworth, 
New South Wales, and of the Talgai skull. He says that the teeth 
of the Wentworth skull are worn and the canines are absent, but 
even with this disadvantage it clearly demonstrates the fact that 
the Talgai skull has no real claims to be considered outside the 
range of variation of the recent aboriginal. He adds that since 
Stewart Smith’s original publication, investigations by Campbell 
and Burkitt have rightly tended to diminish the importance of 
certain features taken by Stewart Smith to indicate a peculiarly 
ape-like dentition; and that it is fair to say that the Talgai skull 
should be regarded as that of a young aboriginal with large palate 
and large teeth, but still not wholly outlandish even in regard to 
these features. 
Dr. J. Wunderly has informed me that some canine teeth 
extracted in the Melbourne Dental Hospital from jaws of Euro- 
peans are larger than any recorded for Australian aboriginals. 
The skull is in the Anatomy School, University of Sydney. 
The Tartanga Skeletons 
Tartanga lies in the Murray River canyon near Nildottie, South 
Australia, where the valley is a mile wide and is bounded by cliffs 
of Tertiary limestone about 40 ft. high. The river is over 100 yards 
across and the narrow low-lying island where the bones were 
found separates the stream from Tartanga lagoon. 
Part of a human skeleton exposed by erosion at Tartanga was 
sent to the South Australian Museum in 1928 by W. R. Roy, of 
New Devon Downs. In consequence, Hale and Tindale (1928) 
excavated both this site and the adjacent Devon Downs rock 
