'Castrum Hadrianum'； which is in no way distinguishable from the fossil
bones from the Frankish caves； it presents the same colour； and adheres
to the tongue just as they do； so that this character also； which； at a
former meeting of German naturalists at Bonn； gave rise to amusing
scenes between Buckland and Schmerling； is no longer of any value。 In
disputed cases； therefore； the condition of the bone can scarcely
afford the means for determining with certainty whether it be fossil；
that is to say； whether it belong to geological antiquity or to the
historical period。'
〃As we cannot now look upon the primitive world as representing a wholly
different condition of things； from which no transition exists to the
organic life of the present time； the designation of 'fossil'； as
applied to 'a bone'； has no longer the sense it conveyed in the time of
Cuvier。 Sufficient grounds exist 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 remarked 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 probability 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 exhibiting； 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 fossae； 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。〃
In a subsequent passage； Dr。 Schaaffhausen remarks：
〃There is no reason whatever for regarding the unusual development of
the frontal sinuses in the remarkable skull from the Neanderthal as an
individual or pathological deformity； it is unquestionably a typical
race…character； and is physiologically connected with the uncommon
thickness of the other bones of the skeleton； which exceeds by about
one…half the usual proportions。 This expansion of the frontal sinuses；
which are appendages of the air…passages； also indicates an unusual
force and power of endurance in the movements of the body； as may be
concluded from the size of all the ridges and processes for the
attachment of the muscles or bones。 That this conclusion may be drawn
from the existence of large frontal sinuses； and a prominence of the
lower frontal region； is confirmed in many ways by other observations。
By the same characters； according to Pallas； the wild horse is
distinguished from the domesticated； and； according to Cuvier； the
fossil cave…bear from every recent species of bear； whilst； according
to Roulin； the pig； which has become wild in America； and regained a
resemblance to the wild boar； is thus distinguished from the same animal
in the domesticated state； as is the chamois from the goat； and；
lastly； the bull…dog； which is characterised by its large bones and
strongly…developed muscles from every other kind of dog。 The estimation
of the facial angle； the determination of which； according to Professor
Owen； is also difficult in the great apes； owing to the very prominent
supra…orbital ridges； in the present case is rendered still more
difficult from the absence both of the auditory opening and of the
nasal spine。 But if the proper horizontal position of the skull be
taken from the remaining portions of the orbital plates； and the
ascending line made to touch the surface of the frontal bone behind the
prominent supra…orbital ridges； the facial angle is not found to exceed
56 degrees。* Unfortunately； no portions of the facial bones； whose
conformation is so decisive as regards the form and expression of the
head； have been preserved。 The cranial capacity； compared with the
uncommon strength of the corporeal frame； would seem to indicate a small
cerebral development。 The skull； as it is； holds about 31 ounces of
millet…seed； and as； from the proportionate size of the wanting bones；
the whole cranial cavity should have about 6 ounces more added； the
contents； were it perfect； may be taken at 37 ounces。 Tiedemann
assigns； as the cranial contents in the Negro； 40； 38； and 35 ounces。
The cranium holds rather more than 36 ounces of water； which
corresponds to a capacity of 1033。24 cubic centimetres。 Huschke
estimates the cranial contents of a Negress at 1127 cubic centimetres；
of an old Negro at 1146 cubic centimetres。 The capacity of the Malay
skulls； estimated by water； equalled 36； 33 ounces； whilst in the
diminutive Hindoos it falls to as little as 27 ounces。〃
＇footnote＇ *Estimating the facial angle in the way
suggested； on the cast I should place it at 64 degrees to
67 degrees。G。 B。
After comparing the Neanderthal cranium with many others； ancient and
modern； Professor Schaaffhausen concludes thus：
〃But the human bones and cranium from the Neanderthal exceed all the
rest in those peculiarities of conformation which lead to the
conclusion of their belonging to a barbarous and savage race。 Whether
the cavern in which they were found； unaccompanied with any trace of
human art； were the place of their interment； or whether； like the bones
of extinct animals elsewhere； they had been washed into it； they may
still be regarded as the most ancient memorial of the early inhabitants
of Europe。〃
Mr。 Busk； the translator of Dr。 Schaaffhausen's paper； has enabled us to
form a very vivid conception of the degraded character of the
Neanderthal skull； by placing side by side with its outline； that of
the skull of a Chimpanzee； drawn to the same absolute size。
Some time after the publication of the translation of Professor
Schaaffhausen's Memoir； I was led to study the cast of the Neanderthal
cranium with more attention than I had previously bestowed upon it； in
consequence of wishing to supply Sir Charles Lyell with a diagram；
exhibiting the special peculiarities of this skull； as compared with
other human skulls。 In order to do this it was necessary to identify；
with precision； those points in the skulls compared which corresponded
anatomically。 Of these points； the glabella was obvious enough； but
when I had distinguished another； defined by the occipital protuberance
and superior semicircular line； and had placed the outline of the
Neanderthal skull against that of the Engis skull； in such a position
that the glabella and occipital protuberance of both were intersected by
the same straight line； the difference was so vast and the flattening
of the Neanderthal skull so prodigious （compare Figs。 22 and 24； A。）；
that I at first imagined I must have fallen into some error。 And I was
the more inclined to suspect this； as； in ordinary human skulls； the
occipital protuberance and superior semicircular curved line on the
exterior of the occiput correspond pretty closely with the 'lateral
sinuses' and the line of attachment of the tentorium internally。 But on
the tentorium rests； as I have said in the preceding Essay； the
posterior lobe of the brain； and hence； the occipital protuberance； and
the curved line in question； indicate； approximately； the lower limits
of that lobe。 Was it possible for a human being to have the brain thus
flattened and depressed； or； on the other hand； had the muscular ridges
shifted their position？ In order to solve these doubts； and to decide
the question whether the great supraciliary projections did； or did
not； arise from the development of the frontal sinuses； I requested Sir
Charles Lyell to be so good as to obtain for me from Dr。 Fuhlrott； the
possessor of the skull； answers to certain queries； and if possible a
cast； or at any rate drawings； or photographs； of the interior of the
skull。
FIG。 24。The skull from the Neanderthal cavern。 A。 side； B。 front； and
C。 top view。 One…third the natural size； by Mr。 Busk： the details from
the cast and from Dr。 Fuhlrott's photographs。 'a' glabella； 'b'
occipital protuberance； 'd' lambdoidal suture。
Dr。 Fuhlrott replied with a courtesy and readiness for which I am
infinitely indebted to him； to my inquiries； and furthermore sent three
excellent photographs。 One of these gives a side view of the skull；
and from it Fig。 24； A。 has been shaded。 The second （Fig。 25； A。）
exhibits the wide openings of the frontal sinuses upon the inferior
surface of the frontal part of the skull； into which； Dr。 Fuhlrott
writes； 〃a probe may be introduced to the depth of an inch；〃 and
demonstrates the great extension of the thickened supraciliary ridges
beyond the cerebral cavity。 The third； lastly （Fig。 25； B。） exhibits
the edge and the interior of the posterior； or occipital； part of the
skull； and shows very clearly the two depressions for