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A N C I E N T BRITISH SKULL.
PEOM WETTON HILL BAEEOW, STAFFOEDSHIEE.
(REGION OF THE CORNAVII, TEMP. PTOLEM.®!, A. d . 120.)
IN our description of the platy-ceplialic cranium from this Wetton Hill Barrow, belonging to the
second skeleton of the excavation of May 1849 (Plate 12, p. (1)), we made repeated allusions to
that of the^rsit interment then met with. The lithograph now placed before the reader is a
clear representation of this latter. In order to make an easy distinction among the chief forms
of skuUs, we have designated that to which it appertains acro-cephalic. Its owner was a
primeval Briton, his last resting-place upon the rock, and his arrow having a rude head of
flint, the only object deposited with him. His skeleton lay in close proximity to that of the
second interment discovered, which was enclosed in a rude cist, and was accompanied with a
ilnished earthen vase, having four loops, a flgiu-e of which appears in the description above
referred to.
This skull of ihn first skeleton found has perished ia a singular manner; one-half, in immediate
contact with the earth, being wholly destroyed, whilst the other upper half remains in
a perfect condition. It is the mortal relic of a man of about 40 years of age. In its facial aspect
it presents strongly marked aborigiaal features. The fi-ontal sinuses are denoted by an elevated
frowning boss, which is separated by a deep notch from the nasal bones. The sinuses themselves
are capacious, the cavity formed by them being 2 inches in transverse diameter or length, 1-3 inch
in height, and 0'7 inch across the clear amtero-posteriorly. The cheeks are depressed; the chin
prominent, and indented at the tip. The nasal orifice is narrow; the nose long, and sKghtly
arched. The lower jaw is deep, and everted at the angles; the teeth are a good deal worn, the
alveolus of the lower dens sapiens being effaced; the orbits are large ; and the whole face unusually
long, the lateral direction of the malar bones tending to heighten this appearance. The
frontal arch ascends rapidly, and rises considerably, tiU, at the junction of the coronal and
sagittal sutm-es, it reaches the most elevated spot in the vault of the calvarium. The former
sutm-e abuts weU on the sphenoidal bone. The parietals are so formed as to give a remarkably
lofty aspect to the skuU. The descent from this high vertical region is somewhat abrupt, over
the short occipital bone. The parieto-occipital flatness exists, begins just behind the middle of
the parietal bones, and extends to very near the tuberosity of the occipital. "We might be
inclined to attribute the unusual height of this skull to whatever has been the occasion of this
flatness, did we not observe the same plane in skulls of very different forms. Prom the tuberosity
the occipital advances forward in an uncommonly horizontal plane. The mastoid is large;
the squamous portion of the temporal bone smaU. This is a decidedly capacious skuU, and is of
moderate thickness. Its owner must have been a large man, having a long face, and lofty short
head.
34. (1)
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