OLDIJVAI GORGE 205
smaller L orbit is more ovoid. Distinct, medially
placed supraorbital notch above each orbit. On the
R, at least three infraorbital foramina lie well below
inferior orbital margin. Interorbital region seems to
have tapered a bit inferiorly, to level of the narrow,
somewhat forwardly facing lacrimal fossae. Posterior
and anterior lacrimal crests apparently did not close
off roof of fossa.
Very long, albeit inferiorly broken, nasal bones are
apparently strongly curved (i.e., scooped out) in pro-
file below presumed region of nasion; sharply keeled
along nasonasal suture. Lateral to this keel nasals rela-
tively flat, running into equally flat, anteriorly facing
maxillary frontal process. Lateral to frontal process (as
seen on R), anterior root of zygoma is more vertically
oriented, flat, and forward facing. As reconstructed,
nasal aperture is small and very piriform, widening in-
feriorly. Lower part of lateral nasal margin appears to
be rather blunt. Top of nasoalveolar clivus shows no
sign of demarcated inferior nasal margin. Clivus itself
(as reconstructed) slopes forward very strongly; it is
broad, flat across, with a strong midline crest that
decreases in height toward alveolar margin. Laterally,
as seen on the L, lateral to and below inferior nasal
margin, is a strong facial pillar that houses the tip of a
very stout canine root. Between facial pillar and clival
crest, especially superiorly, is a distinct, rounded gut-
ter. Pillar furnishes a “corner” between plane of clivus
and side of maxilla. Behind pillar, descending almost
to alveolar margin, is a slight sulcus. Behind sulcus,
anterior root of zygomatic arch (above M1 on R) ap-
parently originated high above alveolar margin.
Good-sized suprameatal crest flows into strongly
downwardly oriented (broken) posterior root of zygo-
matic arch that overhung lateral extent of articular
fossa. Articular fossa very m/l wide, a/p short at its
top; is bounded posteriorly by a small postglenoid plate
abutting tubular ectotympanic. Anteriorly, articular
fossa flows down and out over low, m/l wide eminence.
Anterior squamosal not visible; that region flows
smoothly into a very deep temporal fossa that is
bounded anteriorly by postorbital plate. R mastoid
process broken ofc base appears to have been quite
large. Most of tubular ectotympanic was quite widely
separated from mastoid process. L temporal missing
externally. Petromastoid plane behind mastoid process
(on R) apparently quite flat. Parietomastoid suture
must have been quite high above process. For size of
skull, temporal bone appears to have been quite long;
impossible to say anything about squamosal suture.
Foramen spinosum lay well within temporal. Temporal
may have contributed to formation of a relatively small
foramen ovale that lies laterally at root of lateral ptery-
goid plate. Outline of tubular ectotympanic (meatus
missing) tall s/i, compressed, and inferoanteriorly tilted.
Posterior edge of tube apparently abutted base of mas-
toid region. Thick base of broken vaginal process runs
along length of tubular ectotympanic, apparently fading
out laterally. Styloid pit was apparently very tiny, with a
small stylomastoid foramen behind and lateral to it.
Part of roof of skull preserved (although cobbled
together from miscellaneous pieces). No trace of
temporal lines. Internally, sagittal sinus well defined
anteriorly, in frontal region; little else can be said.
Farther back externally, on the R, is a trace of regu-
larly and finely interdigitated lambdoid suture rising
at a modest angle from what would have been region
of asterion. (However, reconstruction of this whole
region may need revisiting). Nuchal region appears
reasonably reconstructed, and does not seem to have
been very muscle scarred.
On both sides pterygoid plates are present, set quite
medially, creating a deep fossa behind the maxillary pole
that corresponds to the infratemporal fossa (although
this is not clearly delineated by a ridge above). Pterygoid
plates are more or less parallel on the R, but the medial
is arcuate on L. As reconstructed, root of vomer is quite
posteriorly placed; it greatly overlaps the sphenooccipital
region, with which it makes a fairly acute angle to pro-
duce substantial apparent cranial base flexion. Foramen
magnum relatively large, rather ovoid, and widest in
front, between fairly small, m/l thin, inferiorly strongly
arced, fairly anteriorly placed condyles.
Palate was moderately long, rectangular in outline,
apparently quite broad across its broken front, espe-
cially if C corners are included. Posteriorly, palate is
quite deep, with deep side walls becoming shallower
and less vertical anterior to what was apparently a
gentle anterior slope. Palatine foramina not very large.
Single incisive foramen long and slit-like. Posterior
nasal spine may have been long and protrusive.
Internally, considerable crushing and distortion.
Appears that rather large cerebellar lobes pointed down-
ward (R larger than L). What are reconstructed as re-
gions bearing transverse sinuses are subequal laterally in
size; apparently sinuses came off at same level. On the
R, sigmoid sinus preserved; lies entirely in temporal;
runs deeply but thinly behind and then under petrosal
toward rather small jugular foramen that lies right under
moderate internal auditory meatus. On the R, faint