Note on the Ancient Human SJcidl-remains from the TransvcuiL 3 
Of the rate of formation of this laterite nothing is known. The con- 
version of soil into laterite takes place presumably from below, as the upper 
parts of the section show but isolated patches of the rock. The skull-cap 
must have been lying there long enough for part of its surrounding soil to 
become lateritised and for the formation of masses of the breccia in at least 
3 ft. 6 in. of ground above it ; but it would seem impossible to assign to 
it any definite age in the absence of knowledge of the time required for 
cementing to take place under the local conditions. 
A microscopic study of a portion of the parietal bone shows that the 
large vessels and vacuities in the cancellous tissue or diploe are almost 
completely filled by crystalline calcite. Around each of them is a more or 
less irregular dark brown ring of oxide of iron, smaller particles of which 
are scattered through the ground-mass. The ground-mass of the bone 
consists of calcite and calcium phosphate, the former apparently pre- 
dominating. 
The weight of the skull-fragment, omitting a small piece of the right 
parietal and the temporal bone, when cleared of matrix, was 698 grm. 
The following report upon the composition of the remnant was kindly 
submitted by Dr. C. F. Juritz, the Government Analyst, the analysis being 
carried out by Dr. W. Yersfeld : 
" Analytical JResults. 
" Silica ........ 3-0 per cent. 
Oxide of iron ...... 2*9 „ 
Lime . . . . . . . . 44*1 „ 
Phosphoric oxide ...... 12'0 „ 
" The sample loses about a third of its weight on ignition. This repre- 
sents moisture and carbon dioxide. The latter appears to have replaced 
phosphoric oxide to a large extent. 
"The specific gravity of the whole piece is 2*08. When powdered it 
should be slightly higher. 
"The theoretical composition of calcium phosphate, of which human 
bones largely consist, is : 
Lime 54 per cent. 
Phosphoric oxide . . . . . . 46 „ 
and that of carbonate of lime is : 
Lime 44 per cent. 
Carbon dioxide . . . . . . . 56 „ " 
Shull-cap. — The calvaria, as preserved, probably presents its maximum 
length, which is about 205 mm. ; and a slight restoration of one side of the 
fragment where the bone-surface has been worn away gives a maximum 
breadth of 154 mm. The cephalic index ( ^eltest ten^t^ ^ 
