Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Smith echoed Keith's opinion that Taung was similar to gorillas and
chimpanzees, noting, “It would be rash to push the claim in support
of the South African anthropoid's nearer kinship with man” without
further evidence about the teeth (recall that Taung's jaws had not yet
been separated) and the geological age of the fossil.
4
Unsurprisingly, Elliot Smith found the endocast to be the most inter-
esting part of Taung and observed that the most suggestive feature
shown in Dart's illustration of it was the “parietal expansion that has
pushed asunder the lunate and parallel sulci—
a very characteristic
regarding this part of the endocast, Elliot Smith was guarded in his
opinion but still managed to offer a backhanded compliment to his for-
mer protégé: “When fuller information regarding the brain is forth-
coming—and no one is more competent than Prof. Dart to observe the
evidence and interpret it—I for one shall be quite prepared to admit
that an ape has been found the brain of which points the way to the
Woodward, who had done the first reconstruction and interpretation
of the Piltdown remains, offered the most critical opinion that Valen-
tine's Day. Referring to Dart's description of Taung, he noted:
As usual, however, there are serious defects in the material for discussion,
and before the published first impressions can be confirmed, more examples
of the same skull are needed. . . . I . . . hesitate to attach much importance
to rounding or flattening of any part of the brain-cast. . . . It is premature
to express any opinion as to whether the direct ancestors of man are to be
sought in Asia or in Africa. The new fossil from South Africa certainly has
little bearing on the question.
7
Duckworth, on the other hand, was much more positive and even reit-
erated the characteristics of Taung's eye sockets, nose, forehead, and
canines that supported Dart's assessment. He was not bothered by
Taung's resemblance to African rather than Asian apes and (propheti-
