Piltdown Hoax

In the early 1900's, Charles Dawson, an amateur archaeologist, claimed to have found ancient human skull remains while digging in a gravel pit in the small village of Piltdown. His findings fooled scientists for 40 years. With the help of Arthur Woodward and Father Teilhard, Charles Dawson soon became famous. With news that the the first remains of an early-human skull were found, many were skeptical ye, didn't express their doubts.  When The Trio, (Charles Dawson, Arthur Woodward, and Father Teilhard), discovered the second set of remains, the scientific community was ecstatic that the missing link between ape and humans were found. Findings after findings, the trio were becoming famous world wide. After Charles Dawson's death in 1916, the Piltman fossils had stopped being found. In the 1920's, ancient human remains were found in Asia and Africa. After testing, these fossils were dated back to approximately 100,000 years after the Piltdown Man. In contrast, the Asian and African remains were LESS human, and brought up the validity of the Piltdown Man remains. After World War 2, new turning points rose in the scientific community such as Fluorine Dating Testing. In 1949, scientists did fluorine tests on the Piltdown Man and arrived at the conclusion that these remains dated back to only 100,000 years before (relatively young). In 1953, a full scale analysis was done and revealed that the artifacts were stained and some of the fossil was cut with a steel knife after fossilization had occurred. They also revealed that the teeth had been filed down and parts of the jawbone were broken off to secure its real identity, a female orangutan. Although there hasn't been a guilty suspect found, theories link the hoax back to Charles Dawson who found the first and last set of Piltdown Man fossils. His clear motive, as an amateur archaeologist, was fame for his conservative campaign for science. Some people blame Arthur Kieth because he needed proof to finalize his Human Evolution Theory. After the case, more than half a dozen other archaeological findings were found; all forged by Charles Dawson.

Even though scientists are curious, creative and persistent, they do carry human faults. Some human faults that came into play in the Piltdown Hoax were national pride and self interest. These human weaknesses negatively impacted the scientific process because it led The Trio to forge all their findings to become known in the scientific community as well as change the aspect of life and evolution for world.

The positive aspect of the scientific process that was responsible for the revealing of the hoax was the 1949 Fluorine Test. By measuring the fluorine content found in fossils, scientists were able to roughly date them. In 1953, scientists conducted a Full Scale Analysis using microscopes to reveal staining, cutting, and filing.

I don't think its possible to get rid of the "human" factor from science to limit the chance of errors like the Piltdown Hoax. I wouldn't want the "human" factor from science because as humans we are curious and creative. Without such "human" factors, there would be no reason for science. I think the technology we have today gives room for scientists to be human. Technology can test hypothesis and prove of falsify theories and still allows the scientist to "think outside the box", by human nature.

The life lesson that I took from this historical event is not to believe everything, until I analyze it thoroughly, or until it has been scientifically prove and backed with technology. I also learned not to let some human faults determine the outcome of hard work. Fame and pride should not affect the scientific process, however, curiosity and creativeness should.