Scandinavian Skulls

Abstract

IN his recent lecture on the “Forefathers of the English People,” Professor Huxley says, “It is a very remarkable circumstance that the skulls of the existing Scandinavians … are long;” and he contrasts their dolicephalous type with the round forms of South German, Swiss, and ancient Belgic heads. He also thinks it likely that the Scandinavian invasions of England brought a “longer form of head” into fashion amongst us. The same doctrine is taught by Sir Charles Lyell, in his “Antiquity of Man,” and even in the sixth edition of his “Elements of Geology,” he says that the Scandinavian skulls of the dolmen period are brachycephalous, or round; those of the iron age being dolicephalous, or long.