Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/387

NEAR ULEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 323 lialf of the skull, the sutures are nearly obliterated ; and there are no Wormian bones. The skull is not quite symme- trical ; the lower jaw is of moderate size, with a well-formed chin. The insertion of the muscles of mastication is strongly marked. From both jaws several of the teeth are wanting, but have evidently fallen out since death ; those which remain are remarkably worn by attrition, and the molars have almost entirely lost their crowns from this cause ; those of the lower jaw are concave from side to side, and those of the upper are convex. In the lower jaw are two large cavities, caused by alveolar abscesses, situated about the fangs of the first molar on each side. The other skull is remarkably well shaped, and is evidently that of a young person, apparently of the male sex. It has the same general form as the preceding, but with its charac- teristics less defined. The lower jaw has not been preserved ; the teeth which remain in the upper jaw exhibit the incipient effects of attrition.*^ Among the fragments of skulls obtained in July, 1854, are three or four calvaria sufficiently complete to show that the length of the skulls had been great in proportion to the breadth. In three instances at least, the thickness is remark- able, and ranges from three to four-tenths of an inch in the thicker parts of the parietal and frontal bones. There are portions of two lower jaws of great size and thickness, especially in that part of the alveolar region, corresponding to the molar teeth ; and which are deeply marked for the attachment of the muscles of mastication. Another lower jaw shows that a first molar and second bicuspid had been lost durino; life. 8uch of the molar teeth as still remain exhibit great marks of attrition, and present, for the most part, a concave surface from side to side. A still more marked appearance of the same kind is presented by the teeth remaining in an upper jaw ; and in both it is observ- able that the inner side of the teeth is that most worn away. Though the bones had, of course, lost nearly the wdiole of their animal matter, they were generally in a state of good preservation ; and hardly a carious tooth was found. None of the bones had been burnt. •"' See Catalogue of Museum of Guy's perfect of them figured of the full size, Hospital, No. 3200. Tliese skulls are to iu the first Decade of the " Crania Briian- be particularly described, and the more uica, by Messrs. Davis and 'riiurnam. VOL. XI. » U C