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DESCEIPTIONS OP CEANIA.
MEASUREMENTS.
Horizontal circumference . 20-8 inches. Occipital Region.--Length . 5-0 inches.
Longitudinal diameter . . . 7-3 jj Breadth . . 5-4 „
Frontal Eegion.—Length . 5-0 ÏJ Height . . 4-2 „
Breadth . . 4-6 ) ) Intermastoid arch . 15'2 „
Height . . 4-9 JÎ Internal capacity 76 ounces.
Parietal Region.—Length . 5-2 )» Pace.-—Length . 4'7 inches.
Breadth . . 5-4 )> Breadth . 5'6 „
Height . . 4-9 „
Prom the foregoing description, it will be seen that the general form of this skuU is such as
pertains rather to the Anglo-Saxon than the ancient British type. The characteristics, however,
of the face,—the brows, jaws and teeth—the parts which constitute the general physiognomy,
are such as belong to the aborigitial Celtic population. As far as the actual physical conformation
extends, the skull might be received as that of a native Briton; but, on the whole, it is
more probable that it is the cranium of a Mercian of mixed blood; on the paternal side of
Angle, and on the maternal of British descent*. It must be admitted to possess great value and
interest, in connexion with the question of a mixture of races, and the effects of such admixture
on cranial types. We further learn from it the caution requisite in forming conclusions as to
the attribution of crania, even from cemeteries so clearly of the Anglo-Saxon period as that of
Pairford.
A female skull from this cemetery, which we likewise owe to the kindness of Mr. Cornwall,
and another, in the possession of a lady at Pairford, of which we have drawings and measurements,
may be briefly noticed. They agree generally in form; and their characteristics, though
less pronounced, correspond in the main with those of the male skull now described. The first
is the larger of the two : Mr. Wylie, writing of its discovery, says, " By this remarkably perfect
female skeleton were the remains of a child. Two small plain button-shaped fibulae were on the
breasts, and a quantity of charcoal ashes at the head, among which was the small iron hook,
evidently used for hanging a vessel over the fire," already referred to. The skull, which exhibits
a slight amount of posthumous distortion, is that of a woman from forty to iifty years of age.
The frontal region is very narrow, but the brows are full, and for a female skuU unusually
prominent. The nasal bones, which project very abruptly, are narrow at the base, but wide in
front. The parietal tubers are full and prominent, giving an aspect of great relative width to
this region of the head. The capacity is indicated by 73 ozs. of sand, which represents a fullsized
female brain, of the weight of 48J ozs. Av. Two of the teeth in the lower jaw, the bicuspid
and third molar, and at least four of the upper molars, have been lost during Ufe. The crowns of
those which remain are very much eroded. Many of the skulls exhumed were thought by Mr.
Wylie to have much more of the Anglo-Saxon characteristics, than the three here described.
* Tins conclusion, if allowed, is reconcileable with the views,
as to the effects on the progeny of intennarriage between persons
20.
(J. T.)
of different race, as taught particularly by the late Mr. Walker:
see supra, " Introduction," chap. i. p. G, note.
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