Piltdown Stegodon tooth C016 / 5973
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Piltdown Stegodon tooth C016 / 5973
Piltdown Stegodon tooth (item E.620). Part of a molar tooth of the extinct mammal Stegodon. The amateur geologist Charles Dawson (1864-1916) claimed to have found this tooth, along with bone fragments and prehistoric tools, at Piltdown, Sussex UK, between 1908 and 1912. Analysis of the radioactive composition of the tooth showed that it could not have come from Sussex. In 1953 the finds were shown to be frauds. Held at The Natural History Museum, London, UK
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9239759
© NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Cenozoic Enamel Epitheria Eutheria Forgery Fossil Fossilised Fraud Great Britain Hoax Mammal Mammalia Molar Phanerozoic Piltdown Man Placental Mammal Pleistocene Pliocene Prehistoric Scale Specimen Sussex Teeth Theria Tooth Epoch Piltdown Piltdown Archive Piltdown Hoax Proboscidea Proboscidean
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the infamous Piltdown Stegodon tooth, a relic from the extinct mammal Stegodon. Believed to have been discovered by amateur geologist Charles Dawson between 1908 and 1912 in Piltdown, Sussex, UK, this tooth was part of an elaborate hoax that fooled scientists for decades. The tooth's stunning enamel and intricate scale pattern are beautifully captured against a striking black background. However, its true significance lies in the scandalous story behind it. Analysis of the tooth's radioactive composition revealed that it could not have originated from Sussex as claimed by Dawson. In 1953, after years of speculation and controversy, these finds were finally exposed as fraudulent. The Piltdown Stegodon tooth became synonymous with one of history's greatest scientific hoaxes. Today, it is held at The Natural History Museum in London as a reminder of our capacity for deception even within scientific circles. This print invites us to reflect on the complexities of human nature and our pursuit of knowledge. It serves as a testament to the importance of critical thinking and rigorous analysis when exploring our natural world. As we gaze upon this fossilized molar from an ancient epoch, we are reminded that even amidst forgery and frauds, science continues to unravel mysteries and push boundaries towards greater understanding.
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