The Infamous Piltdown Hoax

            In 1912, a fossil was unearthed that scientists believed to be the missing link between man and apes.  The unusual skull remains were discovered at Barkham Manor in the village of Piltdown, England.  Amateur archeologist, Charles Dawson excavated the gravel pit in Piltdown and found a human-like jaw and numerous other skull fragments.  They also discovered primitive tools and various animal fossils.  The authenticity of Dawson’s monumental find was verified and announced by Arthur Smith Woodward of the British Museum.  Their findings showed that the remains belonged to a primitive hominid that was estimated to have lived 500,000 to 1 million years ago.  This discovery was monumental because it was the first evidence of ancient primitive ancestry that could be linked to modern humans to be found in England.  It was considered to be vital to science because this fossil purportedly proved that the large brain developed in early hominids before their ability to walk upright had developed (this theory was later falsified).  The prominence of this find was also used to further support Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.  The Piltdown fossils were kept safely locked away in England for nearly 40 years, thus suspicions were slow to arise that would oppose their authenticity.  It wasn’t until 1953 when Kenneth Oakley performed fluorine tests on the remains that he was able to discover that the remains were significantly younger than Dawson originally claimed.  Once the scandal broke, further examination and texting proved that the skull and jaw originated from two different species: a human and an orangutan.  The teeth of the orangutan were filed down to purposely cause them to resemble human teeth.  The reality was startling for the scientific world because prior to this event, scientists operated on a system of honor.  The person responsible for this shameful act of deceit not only devalued the reliability of scientific discovery, he also delayed and distorted the understanding of the origins of mankind for numerous decades.

            Like any other field, science is extremely competitive.  To be the first person to discover a new species, a cure for a deadly disease, or a new scientific methodology or tool would be a dream come true for any enthusiast of science.  Although we will never know the true motivations for this fraudulent act, it could have easily been motivated by national pride, the desire for recognition, acceptance in the scientific community, wealth, or even fame.  Wherever there is the potential for reward, there will always be the potential for dishonesty.   It is for this reason, that all experiments must be testable and precisely reproducible so that all scientific merit can be verified.

            From 1912 until 1926, scholars and scientists remained sufficiently convinced that the Piltdown fossils could authentically explain the evolutionary link between apes and humans.  However, in 1926, the Piltdown gravel was found to be less ancient than originally claimed.  Additionally, other fossils were being discovered around the world that conflicted with the findings that were produced from the Piltdown skull.  Lastly, technology improved that could be used to accurately verify the age of fossils.  When Oakley tested the fluorine levels, the tests proved that the Piltdown Man fossils were all fake.  The jaw was orangutan, the teeth were filed down to resemble human teeth, and the fossils had been boiled and stained with chemicals in an effort to make them look ancient.

            It would be impossible to remove the human factor from science.  Scientific inquiry leads to new discoveries, all of which are made possible by the hard work and dedication of scientists. Yes, this hoax was devastating to the field of science, but to quote an old proverb—you can’t let one bad apple spoil the bunch.  This hoax illustrated the need for more stringent verification of discoveries.  In the end, it was an excellent learning tool because it resulted in a better system of checks and balances to be instituted in order to prevent a future Piltdown reoccurrence.

            Piltdown teaches us all that even those who are considered experts in a field have the potential to manipulate the truth in order to reap some form of profit, so be careful what you choose to believe.  It also proves that sometimes we believe what we want to believe.  With all of the fossil evidence that was being discovered in Africa and Asia, the Europeans desperately wanted to believe that their ancestors had indeed been the first of the human race.  Sadly, it was this desire that prevented them from seeking the truths that were available all along.