AN ABORIGINAL SKULL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 14

AN ABORIGINAL SKULL.

GREAT SCIENTIFIC VALUE. UNEARTHED IN VICTORIA. PREHISTORIC TRIBE RELIC. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, Sept. 30. An aboriginal skull of great scientific value has been found in the neighbourhood of the Kow Swamp, Victoria, not far from where the now famous Cohuna skull was discovered 18 months ago. The Cohuna skull was unearthed in the course of the construction of an irrigation channel. Found at a depth of only 2ft. below the surface, the skull was, from an anatomical point of view, practically complete, although the lower jaw was not found. It was claimed by the director of the National Museum of Australian Zoology, Professor Colin Mackenzie, that the skull ante-dated all known human remains, including tho Rhodesian, Pilt down and Talgai skulls, and that compared with it Neanderthal remains were comparatively modern. This state ment created much controversy and contradiction in older countries, but Professor Mackenzie, recognised as a world-wide authority, remained firm in his belief. The recently-discovered skull was found by a youth who was grubbing out a rabbit warren. His pick struck what he believed to be a piece of rock, and it was not until the object was broken into fragments that it was seen to bo a skull. The pieces were carefully gathered up and sent to Professor Mackenzie, who said: " The skull belongs to the prehistoric Cohuna race, and, like the Cohuna skull, is completely fossilised, prac tically no organic matter being present. The skull cap is remarkably thick, but the frontal width exceeds that of the Cohuna skull. The breakage was unfortunate, but we shah be able to piece the more important fragments together. It is of the greatest scientific value, and dissipates any idea certain people might have as to tho Cohuna skull being a freak."