Abstract
ARCHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION IN INDO-CHINA.- Dr. R. Verneau describes in L'Anthropologie, T. 35, Nos. 1-2, the results of excavations in the caves of Bac-Son, Tonkin, by Dr. Mansuy and Mile. Colani of the Geological Service. Some years ago Dr. Mansuy demonstrated by excavations at Pho-Binh-Gia that the neolithic culture characteristic of Indo-China-the only type known until then-was preceded by a more archaic culture. Three skulls associated with this early phase were found to differ entirely from the modern population. Further investigations, covering a large number of caves, have revealed a stone culture, apparently general over the area of excavation, of which the implements are of early palaeolithic type-Acheulean. No fossil remains are present, and the animal bones found in the archaeological deposits are all those of existing species. This, coupled with the absence of any of the stages intermediate between the implements of Acheulean type and the polished neolithic implements of the later culture, points to an antiquity of no great degree such as might be inferred from the form alone of the early implements. It is suggested that a primitive culture lingered on until overwhelmed by the incursion of races acquainted with the art of polishing stone. Two skeletons were found; one skull was sufficiently well preserved to admit of measurement; but whereas the skulls from the earlier excavation mentioned above were of a pure Indonesian type, this one is Melanesian; while another skull recently found in the cave of Minh-Cam in Annam presents the characteristics of a Negrito.
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Research Items. Nature 115, 886–888 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115886a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115886a0