The North Americans of Antiquity: Their origin, migrations, and type of civilization consideredShort, John T. (John Thomas)
History
The North Americans of Antiquity: Their origin, migrations, and type of civilization considered
Short, John T. (John Thomas)
Indians -- Origin; Indians of Mexico -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Antiquities
measurements varied from each other but slightly. In confirmation of
this result it is worthy of notice that the mean vertical diameter of
the twenty-one mound and stone grave crania from Tennessee varied from
that of the Mexican crania by only one one-hundredth of an inch (5.56).
When Dr. Morton began his investigations, he was disposed to recognize
the existence of distinct races, represented by the dolichocephalic
and brachycephalic crania of Peru.[248] But in later years, and at
a period subsequent to the issue of his justly celebrated work,
he concluded that the Peruvian elongated head was the product of
artificial compression and not the distinguishing mark of an ancient
race which long antedated the Incas.[249] Prof. Wilson has thoroughly
discussed this subject, and from a series of investigations, conducted
on a much more extensive scale than those of Dr. Morton, he has
shown conclusively that the distinguished craniologist was quite
mistaken as to the facts upon which he based his later views.[250]
Much valuable information was afforded Prof. Wilson by the researches
and collections of John H. Blake, Esq., made during that gentleman’s
residence in Peru, as well as the extensive collection of Dr. J. C.
Warren of Boston. Prof. Wilson points out the essential difference
between the compressed and the naturally dolichocephalic cranium in
these words: “Few who have had extensive opportunities of minutely
examining and comparing normal and artificially formed crania, will,
I think, be prepared to dispute the fact that the latter are rarely,
if ever, symmetrical. The application of pressure on the head of the
living child can easily be made to change its natural contour, but it
cannot give to its artificial proportions that harmonious repetition
of corresponding developments on opposite sides which may be assumed
as the normal condition of the unmodified cranium. But in so extreme
a case as the conversion of a brachycephalic head averaging about 6.3
inches longitudinal diameter by 5.3 inches parietal diameter into a
dolichocephalic head of 7.3 by 4.9 inches diameter, the retention
of anything like the normal symmetrical proportions is impossible.
Yet the dolichocephalic Peruvian crania present no such abnormal
irregularities as could give plausibility to the theory of their form
being an artificial one, while peculiarities in the facial proportions
confirm the idea that it is of ethnic origin and not the product
of deformation.” Besides these differences there are peculiarities
of a structural nature sufficient in themselves to distinguish the
Peruvian long from the short crania. The former is small, narrow and
decidedly long; the forehead is low and retreating, and two-thirds
of the brain-cavity lies behind the occipital foramen. The superior
maxillary is protruding and holds the incisor teeth obliquely. The
weight of the bony structure also exceeds that in the brachycephalic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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