Remarks on Skulls Dredged from the Thames in the Neighbourhood of Kew Author(S): J

Remarks on Skulls Dredged from the Thames in the Neighbourhood of Kew Author(s): J. G. Garson Source: The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 20 (1891), pp. 20-25 Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2842343 . Accessed: 15/06/2014 05:16

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This content downloaded from 91.229.229.96 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:16:42 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 20 J. G. GARSON.-h)emarkson Skulls dredgedfron the

raised by Mr. Elton and other writers,as to a Finnish or Mongol immigration,among which race the custom of inheritance by the youngest son could be traced to a remoteantiquity. In Hampshire this castom formerlyprevailed on nine manors.

DR. GARSON and MR. LAWRENCE exhibitedcertain human skulls from the bed of the Thames, and made the followincg remarks:

REMARKSon SKULLS dredgedfrom the THAMES in theneighbourhood of KEW.

By J. G. GARSON, M.D., V.P.A.I., and Lectureron Comparative Anatomy,Charing Cross Hospital.

THE skulls which I have the pleasureof calling yourattention to to-nightwere placed at my disposal for this purpose by Mr. G. F. Lawrence, who will make some renmarksregarding the geologicalstratum in whichthey were found(see p. 26). Thereare in all fifteenspecimens on the table beforeus; some of these are almostcomplete, while others are unfortunatelyonly fragmentary.Eight of them,those marked B, C, F, I, K, N, 0, aindP, were foundniear Kew; threemarked D, L, and M were obtained betweenKew and Mortlake; two marked A and H came fromthe riverbed near Hamnmersmith;while the rernain- ing,two, E and G, weredredged at Twickenhamand in Lion Reach respectively. All of the specimens thereforewere obtained withina distanceof a fewmiles. On separatingthe obviously male specimensfromthose which are distinctlyfemale, and running the eye along each group,we see that there is a good deal of differencebetween some of the male skulls, but less variety occursin the females. Amongthe male skulls thereare at least two well-markedtypes, which may be readilydistinguished by almostanyone. There is firsta type in whichthe skull is low in height,broad (especiallyin the frontalregion), and the vault as seen fromthe fronthas a low broad arch. When we look at these skulls fromabove it will be seen that theyare squarish- oval in form. Their cephalicindex is about 75 0. Of thistype there are five specimens,namely, those marked respectively D, L, M, H, and P. In someof these the glabella and superciliary ridges are fairlymarked, while ill othersthese prominences are less distinct. The foreheadis rece6ding.Olle of the specimens, myiarkedP, is metopic. The threeMortlake specimens, one of the Kew, and one of the Hammersmithspecimens are of this type. The second type differsfrom that just describedin the cranial

This content downloaded from 91.229.229.96 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:16:42 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Thamesin theneighbourhood of Kew. 21

vault being acutelyarched from side to side, the brain cavity beinglong and narrow,and the,cephalic index averagingabout 70 0. In one (markedF) the glabella,but moreparticularly the superciliaryridges, are excessivelydeveloped, while in the others these parts are moderatelymarked. Most of these specimens have irregularitiesof the surface,and in this respectdiffer from the previoustype, which are remarkablysmooth and regular. Of this secondtype there are fourexamples, namely, two of the specimensfound at Kew, and the Twickenhamand the Lion IReachspecimens; these are markedrespectively F, N, G, and E. Possibly a third type intermediatein character,between the formertwo, is representedby the craniummarked 0, obtained fromKew. It is a veryfine example of a well-filledand formed skull of large size, rathermore dolichocephalic than the average English skull of the presentday, the cephalicindeK being 74 2. The superciliaryridges and gabella are fairlydeveloped but not inarkedlyso; the greatestelevation of the formeris over the innerangle of the orbit. This specimenis verynearly allied to thoseof the secondtype, and had the meansof determiningmore completelythe facial charactersof the latterbeen presenit,might have been includedwith them,with a remarkthat one of the specimensis a little more brachycephalicthan the others. In lnoneof the latterhave we got the facial portionpreserved, and consequentlywe have to trustto the shape of the calvaria alone in classifvina'them. Of the otherspecimens those marked B, D and I respectively, are females; the specimenmarked K is also probablyof female sex, but being very incompletethe sex cannot be determined with certainty. The specimensB and G are completecrania, and resembleone aniotherin generalappearance; theirmeasure- mentsalso are verysimilar; butB has somewhatmore masculine charactersthan I, the surfacesfor the attachmentof muscles being more marked on it. The cephalic index of these two crania averages 75 2. In relation to the male specimensthe female crania correspondto the firsttype; the specimen K is markedlyof this type,being flatter than the otherfemales. It differsfrom all the otherspecimens in having the outlines of its lateral walls, when viewed fromabove, remarkably straight and divergingtill thegreatest breadth is attainedat the posterior part of the parietalbones-in otherwords, it is markedly"coffin- shaped." All the female specimens,it will be noted, were obtainedfrorn the riverat Kew. The followingnotes regarding the character of each individual specimen,and the table of measurementsappended, may be usefulfor the purposeof comparing,these withother specimens of ancientBritish skulls

This content downloaded from 91.229.229.96 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:16:42 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 22 J. G. GARSON.-Remarkson Skulls dredgedfrom the

First Type. D, L, M and H. Broadflat calvaria, more or less imperfect, of oval form,superciliary arches distinctfrom glabella and feeblydeveloped. Thesespecimens are verysimilar in appearance,and are fiullyadult. The firstthree foundat Mortlake,the last at Hammersmith. P. Similar to the previous four specimens,but more dolichocephalic. Metopic; square and broad in frontalregion; the arch of the cranial vault low and broad,the occipitalregion pointed. Found at Kew.

Second Type. F. Calvaria of an adult male somewhatimperfect, the base being, absent. The superciliaryridges and glabella are extraordinarilyprominent, the formerexteindinig along the whole orbitalmargin to the external orbital processes. The external occipital protuberanceand superior semi-circularline are also very strongly developed. The sagittal suture is situated in a depressionextending from before backwards. The form ofthe cranium is longand narrow;cranial vault acutely archedfrom side to side. Obtainedfrom the riverat Kew. N. Calvaria of adult male. Very dolichocephalic,supra- orbitalridges entirely absent; foreheadprominent; the arch of cranial vault acute but sunk at the apex, and in the depression,which extends from before backwards, is situatedthe sagittalsuture. The occipitalridges are feebly marked; the surface generally is uneven. Obtainedfrom the riverat Kew. G. Calvaria of adult male. Resembles very closely the specimenmarked N. Dredged in Lion Reach. E. Calvariaofadult male. Foreheadmoderately prominent; the arch of the cranial vaniltacute; rnodepression at theapex as in F, N and G, so thatthe sagittal suture runs along the highestpart of the vault: in otherrespects resemblesthe two previous specimens. Dredged at Twickenhamn.

OtherSpecimens. 0. Cranium of adult male. Glabella and superciliary ridges moderatelydeveloped, and forma continuous elevationin the centre of the brow region; forehead ratherreceding, miiuscular ridges moderately developed.

This content downloaded from 91.229.229.96 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:16:42 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Thamesin thbeneighbourhood oj Kew. 23 In all respectsa well-formedcranium; the upper part of the face moderatelyprominent; nose straight; axes of orbitsat a mediumangle. B. Cranium of adult female. Superciliary ridges and glabella moderatelydeveloped; foreheadsquare and broad; metopic; cranialarch broadfromi side to side; the ridges for muscular insertions fairly marked. Teeth inoderatein size; not much worn. From the riverat Kew. I. Cranium of adult female. The muscularridges feebly developed; frontalregion not so broad as in the previousspecimen, and the face is shorterfrom above downwards. From the riverat Kew. C. Imperfectcalvaria. From the riverat Kew. K. Imperfectcalvaria of remarkableshape, very broad in posteriorparietalregion, narrow in front,with absolutely straightlateral walls, whichdiverge regularly from the frontalregion to the parietalbosses; afterwardsthey convergerapidly. Occipitalregion and base wanting. Surface smooth,ridges for muscular insertionsabsent. The arch of the cranial vault is remarkablyflat and broad. Probablyfemale. From the riverat Kew. A. Imperfectcalvaria of young person. Oval in shape, pointedat frontaland occipitalernds. From the river at Hammersmith. It is difficultto determinewith any degree of certaintythe periodto whichthese specimensbelonged, on account of their being dredgedup froma riverbed. The evidencewhich msust guide us in comingto a conclusionas to the approximatedate at which theirowners inhabited the countryis of a threefold nature. There is firstthe evidence affordedby the character of the specimenscompared with those of known date; next that indicatedby the objecltsof art or manufacturefound or dredgedup with them: and thirdly,the evidence to be derived fromthe geologicalstratum in which theylay. The characters of the specimenscan only be imperfectlystudied on accountof the brokeil and imperfectcondition of mostof them,but the formof the calvariawould indicate that theyare those of the dolichocephalicrace or raceswhose remainsare found in various partsof the country,associated in earliest timeswith neolithic implements,and who appear to have been the inhabitantsof this countryanterior to the advent of the brachycephalicor Celtic race usually associated with the Bronze period. The investigationswhich have been hithertomade regardingthe osteologicalcharacters of this dolichocephalicor neolithicpeople, seem to show that they were not a homogeneousrace, but

This content downloaded from 91.229.229.96 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:16:42 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions MAL-ES. FEMALES. Young.

D. L. M. P. F. N. G. E. 0. B. i: C. K. A. Q

Maximumlength . . 184 192 c 194 200 187 189 192 183 190 180 175Q MVaximiumbreadth C. . c146 144 146 144 133 130 136 130 141 134 133 130 144 137 1 CephalicIndex .. . .c79-3 75-0 c 75 3 72-0 71-1 68-8 70-8 71-0 74-2 74-4 76-0Z Minimum .. . . frontalbreadth ..100 99 93 96 91 96 98 90 88 Height ...... 134 132 133 130 131 . .. 130 l1e~ght Length Index ...... 6-98 72,1 700 72 2 74-9 iBasio-nasal ...... length . .. 96 100 104 100 94 B3asio-alveolar ...... length ...... 102 98 88 Gnathic Index ...... * .. . .. 98,1 98-0 93-6 Nasio-alveolar ...... length .. . .. 78 67 56 Nasal height ...... 57 47 43 Nasal breadth ...... 26 23 23 Na-sal Index ...... 45,6 489 53-5 Orbital height ...... 34 31 30 Orbital ...... breadth.. . . . 39 36 36 Orbital Ifndex ...... * . . . . 87-2 86-1 83-3 Palato-maxillary length ...... 59 53 49 IPalato-maxillarybreadth 65 59 5 (min. hi-maxillary breadth) ...... 6 59 8 Index ...... Palato-maxillary . 90-8 898 84-5 Maximum ...... hi-maxillary breadth . .. 92 85 85 breadth...... Bi-zygomatic ...... 168-0 185,0 214-0 Mid-facial Index= 1 Bi-zygomatic breadth x 100, ...... 131 1241 120 Nasio-alveolarlength. J

c = ircumn.

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consisted of more than one race. The two distinct types found among these specimens is thereforean interesting circumstance,and may provevery important in connectionwitl futureobservations. Althoughbelonlging to the earliestknown inhabitantsof this country,it does not follow as a matter of conisequencethat these specimensbelong to the neolithicage. We findthat the neolithicraces lived duringthe Bronze period as -wellas beforeit, and even during Roman times,but their distributionduring later timeswas more restrictedor bevond the boundariesoccupied by the new-corners,as is usually the case with a conqueredrace. The absence of brachycephalic skulls amongstthe specimensbefore us as well as the fact that theywere found in the districtwhich would be firstoccupied by the brachycephalicrace corningin fromthe east or south- east, would indicate that probably they belong to an age anteriorto the invasion of the countryby the Bronze age or Celtic people. The implementswhich have been foundin the same stratumas that fromwhich these specimens were obtained,I understand from Mr. Lawrence, are of stone, bone, and bronze,but no implemelitswere fouindwith the specimens. The geologicalstratum in whichthe specimenswere obtained will be describedby Mr. Lawrence,who will tell you theywere found in the stratum iminiediatelyabove the London clay. Further informationregarding the geological formationof the Thamesvalley which throwslight on this subject,is contained in a valuable paper by Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell, F.G.S., in the "Proceedings of the Geologists' Association,"Vol. xi, No. 4. An importantpoint bearing upon the antiquityof the speciinens beforeus is the fact that betweenthe stratumin which they were foundand some of the strata above it, are h-ardconcre- tionarycrusts, which required some forceto break through,thus eliminatingall possibilityof the specimenshaving reached their resting-placeby subsidenceat a subsequent period during the formationof the morerecent strata. As conisiderableiinterest attaches to these skulls fromtlhe bed of the Thames, I am glad to be able to announce that Mr. Lawrencehas consentedto presenttheii to the Natural History Museum at South Kensington,where they will be preservedfor futurereference and study.

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