484 News& Views Nature Vol. 300 9 December 1982 of extensive air showers produced by ultra­ systems being developed independently at supposed postcranial fragments. We agreed high-energy cosmic rays. By studying air the Crimean and Whipple Observatories. that there was no single identifiable Cerenkov pulse profiles and amplitudes Since the sources so far detected include an fragment of this sample that was . along with other observations, it is be­ X-ray binary, pulsars and a radio galaxy, a The remaining fragments were too small coming possible to understand the charge small improvement in sensitivity could lead for either identification or attribution. composition of primary cosmic rays at to a dramatic increase in the number of In anthropological terms, the quarrels energies greater than 10 15 eV (Rao, Tata detected sources (Gursky, Naval Research that this site has provoked have all the Institute; Tanahash, University of Tokyo; Laboratory). With the development in this makings of a Greek tragedy as harrowing Clay, University of Adelaide; Turver). decade of more sensitive detectors at and as long as the Medea of Euripedes Further progress in this discipline satellite y -ray energies and of new performed so well for the delegates at the requires the development of new and more experiments in neutrino astronomy, the open-air theatre at the site. Indeed, the site sensitive detection techniques. Improve­ role of the atmospheric Cerenkov and the situation now require a cool and ment in angular resolution will lead to technique in covering this window in the informed assessment, perhaps by a improved minimum flux sensitivities; such electromagnetic spectrum will become all commission under the chairmanship of Jan improvement may come from the imaging the more important. I ! Jelinek, the newly elected President of the European Anthropological Association. Such a commission could consist of an internationally respected small group including a palaeontologist, a palaeolithic archaeologist, a palaeoanthropologist, a Greek fireworks stratigrapher and a geochronologist. Their task could be to examine the bones, from M.H. Day the tools, the cave and the claims made for them. THE Third European Congress of evolutionary position. Make no mistake, however, Aris Anthropology was held in at So muddy have the waters become that Poulianos and his son, Nickos Poulianos, Petralona, near Thessalonika, at the end of almost everything ever stated about the are to be congratulated on the progress that September. Two main themes - the pre­ find and the site has been questioned, yet they have made at the site, but they must sapiens stage of human evolution and the there are some facts that seem to have a also accept that today such a tremendous biology of migrating populations - solid consensus of support. First, there enterprise must be a team effort. No single attracted great interest and over 200 seems no doubt that at Petralona in 1960 a researcher can encompass all the delegates from around thirty countries virtually complete skull was found disciplines that the rigorous investigation took part. One individual dominated the adherent to the cave wall. Second, the cave of a site demands today, neither can one whole gathering, however, and that was is a Pleistocene cave containing an extinct man have the time and resources to 'go it Petralona man himself; unfortunately he fauna. Third, it does have a alone' successfully. was not present at the Congress since his that is long and complex. Fourth, there are The view that emerged from the fate was then still in the hands of the Greek numerous supposed 'tools' made of bone, conference was quite clear in that the courts of law. Until the courts decide , bauxite or quartz. The vast Petralona specimen is an extremely whether to accede to Aris Poulianos's majority of these 'tools' cannot be proved important skull, almost certainly of Middle request that the skull be transferred to his to be artefacts - but some of the quartz Pleistocene age, and of critical importance museum at the , the tools are undoubtedly humanly worked. in documenting the transition from the Petralona skull remains aloof and Lastly, the cave has clearly been closed for erectus stage of human evolution to incarcerated in its present resting place at a long time but it is unlikely that any cave the Homo sapiens stage in Europe. We owe the University of Thessalonika museum. would remain closed for 500,000 yr as has it to Petralona man, therefore, to gain The first two days of the meeting were been claimed. from the skull and the site every scrap of held at the Petralona site itself, in the This brings us face to face with the evidence available to us by the use of splendid new facilities that have been problem of dating. Most now agree that the modern methods and scientific provided by the energy and dedication of initial estimate of 70,000 yr BP is too young cooperation. Poulianos, including a new tarmac road, a and that on a variety of grounds a date in conference hall, a museum and excess of 200,000 yr BP is more likely. The I. l-knnig, (i.J .• Herr. \\ .. \\chl'r, L & 'XiTOiirh. N.l. laboratories. The Petralona cave nearby dating claimed by Poulianos of over Nature292, 533 (1981). 2. Pouliano,, A. Naturf! 299, (1982). 700,000 yr BP for the skull is very hard to must be one of the most beautiful in J. lirit

Indeed, the conference was preceded by a to prove over the distance involved in the EIAll<'RA"I E preparations were made in various brisk exchange of views on this subject in cave. Various other claims relate to the parts of America to observe the transit of the pages of this journal' -5 • The skull itself, occurrence of fire at one million years BP, Venus yesterday. The Western Union billed as 'The Oldest Europaeoid' has the discovery of the true entrance to the cave Telegraph, to facilitate observations, features that make it crucial to establish its used by Petralona man and the recovery arranged to transmit Washington time of fragments of the Petralona man's wherever desired, in order to secure accuracy postcranial skeleton from the in recording results. Some enthusiastic M.H. Day is Professor at the Department of 'Mausoleum' area. Of the latter claim, I astronomers had proposed general prayer in Anatomy, St Thomas's Hospital Medical can speak personally, having been allowed the churches on Sunday last for clear weather. School, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE/ From Nature 27, 132, 7 December 1882. 7EH. to examine, with several others, the

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