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| Piltdown hoax: Culprit behind one of history’s greatest ruses finally exposed | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The culprit behind one of the greatest scientific hoaxes in history has been found after new forensic techniques revealed his identity. | The culprit behind one of the greatest scientific hoaxes in history has been found after new forensic techniques revealed his identity. |
| Between 1912 and 1914, museum palaeontologist Arthur Smith Woodward and solicitor Charles Dawson claimed to have discovered fossils which supposedly showed the link between man and ape. | Between 1912 and 1914, museum palaeontologist Arthur Smith Woodward and solicitor Charles Dawson claimed to have discovered fossils which supposedly showed the link between man and ape. |
| Known as the Piltdown Man, after the area of Sussex the remains were allegedly found, the discovery fooled even the most eminent scientific minds of the time. | Known as the Piltdown Man, after the area of Sussex the remains were allegedly found, the discovery fooled even the most eminent scientific minds of the time. |
| It took more than 40 years to discover the hoax. | It took more than 40 years to discover the hoax. |
| The new fossil had an ape-like jaw and brain-case like a modern human. | The new fossil had an ape-like jaw and brain-case like a modern human. |
| Mr Dawson claimed to have discovered further evidence at a second site, close to the original, prior to his death in August 1916. | Mr Dawson claimed to have discovered further evidence at a second site, close to the original, prior to his death in August 1916. |
| Doubts were immediately raised but many thought the amateur archeologist was was incapable of such a sophisticated ruse. | Doubts were immediately raised but many thought the amateur archeologist was was incapable of such a sophisticated ruse. |
| At one point Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, was under suspicion. | At one point Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, was under suspicion. |
| Some thought he wanted to mock scientists for ridiculing his spiritualist beliefs. | Some thought he wanted to mock scientists for ridiculing his spiritualist beliefs. |
| New research has now revealed that the forgeries were created using a limited number of specimens all constructed using a consistent method - suggesting the perpetrator acted alone. | New research has now revealed that the forgeries were created using a limited number of specimens all constructed using a consistent method - suggesting the perpetrator acted alone. |
| It is highly likely that an orangutan specimen and at least two human skeletons were used to create the fakes, which are still kept at the Natural History Museum. | It is highly likely that an orangutan specimen and at least two human skeletons were used to create the fakes, which are still kept at the Natural History Museum. |
| The work, which points the finger of suspicion firmly at Mr Dawson, was undertaken by a team led by Liverpool John Moores University and used the latest scientific methods. | The work, which points the finger of suspicion firmly at Mr Dawson, was undertaken by a team led by Liverpool John Moores University and used the latest scientific methods. |
| Dr Isabelle De Groote, from the university and lead author on the paper which is published in Royal Society Open Science, said: "Although multiple individuals have been accused of producing the fake fossils, our analyses to understand the modus operandi show consistency between all the different specimens and on both sites. | Dr Isabelle De Groote, from the university and lead author on the paper which is published in Royal Society Open Science, said: "Although multiple individuals have been accused of producing the fake fossils, our analyses to understand the modus operandi show consistency between all the different specimens and on both sites. |
| "It is clear from our analysis that this work was likely all carried out by one forger - Charles Dawson." | "It is clear from our analysis that this work was likely all carried out by one forger - Charles Dawson." |
| DNA analysis found that both the canine tooth planted at the first Piltdown site and the molar from the second probably came from one orangutan. | DNA analysis found that both the canine tooth planted at the first Piltdown site and the molar from the second probably came from one orangutan. |
| Holes in the skull bones were filled with dental putty, which was also used to re-set the teeth in the jaw and to reconstruct one of the teeth that fell apart while it was being ground down. | Holes in the skull bones were filled with dental putty, which was also used to re-set the teeth in the jaw and to reconstruct one of the teeth that fell apart while it was being ground down. |
| Chris Stringer, human origins expert at the Natural History Museum, said: "Our work shows that a century on, we can add a new chapter to the Piltdown story through new investigative techniques. | Chris Stringer, human origins expert at the Natural History Museum, said: "Our work shows that a century on, we can add a new chapter to the Piltdown story through new investigative techniques. |
| "We found surprising evidence that the forger had even removed the molars in order to modify them, and had then replaced them in the jawbone." | "We found surprising evidence that the forger had even removed the molars in order to modify them, and had then replaced them in the jawbone." |
| New genetic and morphological evidence which suggests a single hoaxer created the Piltdown Man is published in Royal Society Open Science. | New genetic and morphological evidence which suggests a single hoaxer created the Piltdown Man is published in Royal Society Open Science. |