B o s K o I’ 41
recognized several variants). This “physical type” also
included the Fish Hoek and Tuinplaats (Springbok
Flats) crania and other MSA specimens. Wells (1950,
1959) also subdivided this MSA population into a
number of variants, including “proto-Bushmanoid”
and “proto-Australoid.” The Boskop specimen fell into
the former “paedomorphic” group (in contrast to
“gerontomorphic” specimens including Cape Flats and
Zuurberg). Singer (e.g., 1958) essentially concurred;
and he also (Singer, 1961) pointed to a pathological
lesion of the temporal bone in the Boskop cranium.
Tobias (in an epilogue to Galloway, 1959) has provided
a very useful review of the development of this con-
torted situation, and, in particular, of the concept of a
“Boskop people.” Although historically important, in
recent years the Boskop specimen has tended to fade
from view, as has the notion of a distinctive
“Boskopoid” population. However, Protch (1975) re-
vived the Boskop question in his review of early Homo
sapiens in subsaharan Africa, in which he proposed two
possible scenarios, both placing Homo capensis in an
ancestral position relative to other hominids, including
Homo sapiens rhodesiensis. Neither alternative has found
general favor. Pycraft (1925) gave an estimated cranial
volume of 1717 ml.
MORPHOLOGY
Partial calotte, heavy and permineralized, recon-
structed from several pieces; quite weathered. Slightly
more parietal preserved on L than on R. Also, partial
R temporal with mastoid region (plus some small pet-
rosal fragments) and partial petrosal, and part of L
mandibular corpus retaining very worn molar stump;
all other teeth in fragment were lost well antemortem,
and all alveoli are completely or almost completely
resorbed. All sutures obliterated, internally (except
for traces of coronal) and externally.
Braincase very long, thick-boned, with evidence
of extensive porotic hyperostosis. In profile, there is an
almost vertical frontal rise from what appears to have
been an at least slightly swollen glabellar region. Pro-
file quickly arcs strongly back, sloping gently to region
where bregma was (but is only inferable from traces of
coronal suture internally). Profile flattens out for a
short distance, and then curves gently down (in mid-
line) to well down on occipital plane. Here it flattens
out again, becoming almost vertical. Broken below.
Swollen parietal bosses make it impossible to see mid-
line from side. Seen from the front, it appears that theupper facial skeleton had been very narrow from side to
side. Lateral extremity of R supraorbital region did not
extend as far laterally as does widest point on braincase.
From the rear, cranium is wide, with a gently curving
slope over parietal bosses and in midline a wide depres-
sion or sulcus. From above, widest point of skull had
been well back along parietals, where maximum width
of bosses lay Fram here, sides of braincase converge
strongly posteriorly to the short, depressed skull rear
(some of which is missing). From region of maximum
width, skull tapers very gently forward, to flow into (as
seen on R) a minimal, very forwardly placed postorbital
constriction. Damaged glabellar and medial R supraor-
bital regions suggest that medial supraorbital surfaces
were only slightly swollen and lay slightly in front of
preserved R lateral supraorbital region.
What remains of broken superior parts of glabel-
lar and R supraorbital regions protrudes slightly in
front of frontal rise. In middle of anterior surface of R
supraorbital margin is a wide, deep depression that
tapers laterally; this is probably traumatic in origin.
Allowing for this, brow seems to have been relatively
uniform in thickness across. Combination of breakage
and traumatic lesions in medial supraorbital region on
R, and absence of this region on L, make it impossible
to be absolutely sure about brow conformation in this
specimen. However, it seems most likely that brows
were smooth across (nothing confirms glabellar but-
terfly plus lateral plate). As seen on R, moderately
concave orbital roof curves back smoothly but
strongly onto moderately s/i thin lateral supraorbital
region. Modest temporal line emerges above zygo-
matic process of frontal, quickly fading out posteri-
orly. Short frontal apparently bore two moderate
bosses bilaterally; it is not domed in midline. In
broken glabellar region, matrix makes it impossible to
tell anything about frontal sinuses.
As better preserved on R, it appears that side wall
of temporal fossa was quite vertical. Parietals bear very
prominent bilateral parietal bosses over much of their
area. Bosses separated by midline sulcus that emerges
not far behind presumed bregma and becomes wider
as it proceeds down toward occipital region. On R
parietal, somewhat posteriorly, is a large parietal fora-
men. Impossible to ascertain boundaries of preserved
part of occipital; but the lower, more vertical, portion
of this area is slightly swollen and bears a discernible
but shallow depression in midline.
Internally, frontal crest very stout, long, and dis-
tended. Frontal lobes had extended fully over orbital