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point, an anthropologist might observe that the S1a jaw fragment exhibits the features of Homo erectus, as Pithecanthropus erectus is now known. Hence it must have been deposited at least several hundred thousand years ago, despite the fact that it was found on the surface. But this is reasoning from theory to fact, not from fact to theory. What if there were existing in geologically recent times, or even today, a rare species of hominid having physical features similar to those of Homo erectus? in that case one could not automatically assign a date to a given bone based on the physical features of that bone. in chapter 10 can be found evidence suggesting that a creature like Homo erectus has lived in recent times and in fact may be alive today.

As far as chemical dating of finds such as the S1a jaw is concerned, we discuss this in Sections 7.5.2 and 7.5.3.

We do not insist that the S1a jaw is recent. it might very well be several hundred thousand years old, and we would have no problem with that. What we do object to is the uneven application of standards for evaluating paleoanthropological evidence. In affirming the contemporaneity of the S1a jaw with the Djetis beds, scientists have applied such standards more leniently than they have in denying great antiquity to the anomalous finds discussed in previous chapters.

7.3.3 The Role of the Carnegie Institution

During the difficult year of 1936, in the course of which the fossil jaw discussed above was uncovered, the unemployed von Koenigswald received a remarkable visitor—pierre teilhard de chardin, whom von Koenigswald himself had invited to come and inspect his discoveries in Java. teilhard de chardin, a world-famous archeologist and Jesuit priest, had been working in peking (now Beijing), where he had participated in the peking man excavations at choukoutien (now Zhoukoudian). One reason for his coming to Java was that he desired to establish a link between peking man and Java man.

during his visit to Java, teilhard de chardin advised von Koenigswald to write to John c. Merriam, the president of the carnegie institution (cuenot 1958). von Koenigswald did so, informing Merriam that he was on the verge of making important new Pithecanthropus finds. Teilhard de Chardin, who was personally acquainted with most of the leading paleoanthropologists of the day, also wrote in support. teilhard de chardin’s biographer cuenot (1958, p. 163) stated: “One has the impression of a vast web, of which teilhard held in parts the threads, where he served as a liaison agent, or better still, as chief of staff, able, like a magician, to make American money flow, or at least to channel it for the greatest good of paleontology.”

Merriam responded positively to von Koenigswald’s letter, inviting him to come to philadelphia in March 1937 to attend the Symposium on early Man, sponsored by the carnegie institution. there von Koenigswald joined many of the world’s leading scientists working in the field of human prehistory.

One of the central purposes of the meeting was to form an executive committee for the Carnegie Institution’s financing of paleoanthropological research. Suddenly, the impoverished von Koenigswald found himself appointed a research associate of the carnegie institution and in possession of a large budget.

Considering the critical role played by private foundations in the financing of research in human evolution, it might be valuable at this point to further consider the motives of the foundations and their executives. the carnegie institution and John c. Merriam provide an excellent case study. in chapter 9, we will examine the Rockefeller Foundation’s role in financing the excavation of Peking man.

the carnegie institution was founded in January 1902 in Washington, d.c., and a revised charter approved by congress became effective in 1904. the institution was governed by a board of 24 trustees, with an executive committee meeting throughout the year, and was organized into 12 departments of scientific investigation, including experimental evolution. the institution also