Piltdown Hoax Blog Post

The Hoax

In 1908, on an archaeological site in England, there was a discovery of bone structures of an apes jaw and a canine tooth that was similar to a humans teeth structure. Although these findings were soon to be labeled as the Piltdown Hoax. It took 40 years before scientist had realized that these bone structures were a forgery. Someone had filed down the teeth of the apes jaw. Charles Dawson claimed that a workman at the Piltdown gravel pit had given him a fragment of the skull four years earlier. With revisiting the site, Dawson found the remaining fragments of the skull with the help of Arthur Smith Woodward who announced that the fragments were very similar to a modern humans skull. The reason for Piltdown taking 40 years before being spotted as a fraud, was because scientist were not able to see the fragments or examine it at all. It was kept secure and locked in the British Museum. The responses that occurred because of this was taken to be proof that science has its skepticism. Although those with a better understanding of nature sees this event as just a wrong turn, but eventually the arrival at the right destination will occur.

The Piltdown forgery demonstrates that even scientist, being human, make mistakes. It shows that scientific knowledge, having theories and facts has its fallibility. Facts are used to help scientist understand and test their theories. It as well isn't in scientist nature to consider someone could ever intend to play some spiteful deception. It also brought rivalry towards England because they wanted to claim that the early man had come from there because they knew with such findings, it would strengthen the fame and recognition.

Some positive aspects because of the Piltdown skull is fossil discoveries that are founded since, show advancements from a small-brained but upright, to the larger-brained upright humans. There was a preconceived view that a mans brains had to be fully developed before other changes could occur in a human structure, it wouldn't have trigger much suspicion today as it did then. What they also discovered was fluorine that seeped into the bone fragments while being buried under ground which helped scientist find an accurate date of the fossils. Because of this event, the scientific process has taken on a more direct route. If another discovery of a fragment is found, one must fit it into a  new theory, re-examine the evidence to find any errors in the discovery. Basically, whatever errors a scientist make, its more likely that it will be discovered by another scientist.

I feel that it is impossible to remove the "human" factor from science because human factor involves the study of all aspects of the way humans relate to the world around them and aiming to 'improve' performance. I wouldn't want to remove the human factor from science because I think that humans feel that it is necessary to diagnose or identity problems and apply a solution. We as humans make mistakes, but it just gives us ways and solutions to help come up with more theories and facts.

A life lesson that I can take from this event is even with a specimen secured in a museum for everyone to see can end up being a forgery. Since scientist weren't able to observe the skull, no one was able to verify its truth. I feel that we need multiple scientist opinions before ones able to agree with their theory. We can't just base the truth on just one persons opinion or observation because even with us being humans, we do make mistakes.