The Swanscombe Skull: A survey of research on a Pleistocene site

By Ovey, Cameron D. (editor)

SKU# 18310

$ 40.00

Pp. xii, 215; 25 black-and-white photo-plates of cranial parts and the discovery site, 67 text-figures (line-drawings of geological sections, artifacts, mammalian fauna and the Swanscombe cranial parts).  Publisher’s original forest green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine, sm 4to (11 x 7.5 inches).  This is Royal Anthropological Institute Occasional Paper no. 20.  This work presents 21 chapters by noted authorities in the field.  The work is divided into four parts.  Part I presents the Geology and Archaeology; Part II covers the fauna recovered from the site; Part III details the anatomy of skull.  The Swanscombe skull, is a human fossil consisting of three large cranial bones (two parietals and an occipital) of a young female found in well-stratified gravels of the River Thames at Swanscombe in Kent, England.  Discovered in 1935, 1936, and 1955, the remains are dated to 300,000-400,000 years ago by chemical tests and by association with animal remains and Acheulean hand axes also found at the site.  The Swanscombe skull predates the Neanderthals and is usually classified as an archaic Homo sapiens, also called Homo heidelbergensis (modified after Encyclopedia Britannica).  Bookplate of paleontology writer Richard L. Casanova on the front endpaper.  No other ownership marks.

Publisher Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
Publisher Place London
Date Published 1964
Date Published Estimated No
Edition First edition
Number of Volumes 1
Reprint No
Condition Fine
Condition Description A bright and clean copy in fine (as new) condition.
ISBN
Limited Edition