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Piltdown Man: mandible and skull compared
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Piltdown Man: mandible and skull compared
Ape-Man of Modern Man? The two Piltdown skull reconstructions. A page from the Illustrated London News, debating the merits of Dr. A. Smith-Woodwards reconstructions of the Piltdown Mans skull and mandible over the reconstructions proposed by Professor Arthur Keith and Dr. J Leon Williams. In 1953, the find proved to be a hoax; a combination of the skull of a medieval man, the jaw of an orangutan, and chimpanzee teeth. Date: 1913
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Media ID 14125442
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Arthur Compared Debate Debating Fake Forgery Hoax Journalism Keith Leon Link Mandible Missing News Newspaper Piltdown Prehistoric Professor Reconstruction Reconstructions Report Reportage Skull Williams Woodward Smith
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing image from the Illustrated London News, published in 1913, two reconstructions of the Piltdown Man's skull and mandible are compared, igniting a heated debate among scientists and scholars of the time. The Piltdown Man, discovered in East Sussex, England, in 1912, was hailed as the "missing link" between apes and modern humans. Dr. A. Smith Woodward, the discoverer of the Piltdown Man, proposed his reconstruction of the skull and mandible, which depicted a more human-like creature than previous interpretations of early hominids. However, Professor Arthur Keith and Dr. J. Leon Williams, both prominent anthropologists of the time, challenged Smith Woodward's reconstruction, proposing their own interpretations that suggested a more ape-like appearance for the Piltdown Man. The Illustrated London News reported on this debate, highlighting the importance of the Piltdown Man discovery and the ongoing scientific debate surrounding its interpretation. Unfortunately, the Piltdown Man find was later revealed to be a hoax in 1953. The skull was actually a combination of the skull of a medieval man, the jaw of an orangutan, and chimpanzee teeth. Despite this disappointing revelation, the Piltdown Man remains an important chapter in the history of archaeology and anthropology, and serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous scientific inquiry and skepticism in the face of groundbreaking discoveries. This page from the Illustrated London News offers a fascinating glimpse into the scientific community's response to the Piltdown Man discovery and the debates that ensued. The image, with its intricate detail and thoughtful annotation, is a testament to the journalistic reportage of the time and the enduring allure of the search for our ancestors.
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