The Piltdown Man Controversy - University of Notre Damensl/Lectures/phys10262/piltdown_man.pdf ·...
Transcript of The Piltdown Man Controversy - University of Notre Damensl/Lectures/phys10262/piltdown_man.pdf ·...
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The Piltdown Man Controversy
Ellen Kozelka, Laura Brown, Michael Gordon, Kerry Olinger
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IntroductionIntroduction
Charles Dawson“Human” skull and jaw found in East Sussex9 cranial fragments, human brain case and ape-like mandibleIf it were true…If it was a fake…Authenticity wasn’t truly challenged for 40 years
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Physical ExaminationPhysical ExaminationSkull and other artifacts locked away in the British Museum of Natural History
Only known example of Eoanthropus dawsoni
Plaster molds
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Oakley & WeinerOakley & WeinerOakley (and Weiner) was one of the few to initally doubt the Piltdown Man’s origins
1915: Chimp jaw bone with human skull fragments
Unable to test his theory until 1947
Oakley’s tests attracted support of Weiner
Weiner convinced the Museum to officially investigate the remains
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Methods: FUN TestMethods: FUN TestFUN Test: Flourine Uranium Nitrogen Test measures their amounts in the bonesOlder bones: more F, U, less NBuried bones exchange flouride ions with ground waterCalcium ions are replaced by uranium ionsNitrogen measured by remaining organic material
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Radiocarbon DatingRadiocarbon DatingEvery organism contains radioactive carbon
Builds up in the bones
Upon dying, the amount of carbon starts decaying
Measure how much is left to get age
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Abrasion of teethAbrasion of teethIn testing, recreated the abrasion of teeth with a file
Wore down teeth to mimic the effects of human mastication
Drilled the mandible to test adequate samples
PiltdownMan TeethX-ray
ChimpTeethX-ray
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Fluorine ContentFluorine Content1948: Oakley tested remains from Swanscombe and Galley Hill
Middle Pleistocene: 2% fluorine
Upper Pleistocene: 1% fluorine
Post-Pleistocene: < 1% fluorine
Piltdown Man remains: 0.2-0.4% fluorine
= from end of the Pleistocene age at the earliest
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Results of the Radiocarbon DatingResults of the Radiocarbon Dating
Skull Post-Pleistocene
< 800 years old
Mandible significantly younger
Part of Cranial Bone artificially stained
1989 Chris Stringer’s radiocarbon dating
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Visual ObservationsVisual ObservationsSkull clearly not from one animal
Crucial anatomical details missing
TeethMolarsChimpanzee Natural wear and filing
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PiltdownPiltdown’’s Colors ColorArtificial Staining
Chromate content and Iron Content
Sulphate
Orangutan Jaw – No traces of chromium
Would have caused noticeable over-etching
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Alvan T. MarstonAlvan T. MarstonDentist – Examined Piltdown Fossils
Cranial treated with bichromate preservation solution
Mandible and cranial bones don’t belong together
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The BonesThe BonesMandible and cranium bones geologically much younger than Lower Pleistocene age bones
Mandible was from a recent ape, cranium older
Mandible: a few centuries
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Other EvidenceOther EvidencePiltdown Man’s tools
Acid TestX-ray spectography
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Hoax TheoriesHoax Theories
Teilhard de Chardin
Martin Hinton1970s – trunk of bones
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ConclusionConclusion
All tests prove it is a Forgery
Brain developed after physical features
Hinton is most likely the forger