Christopher Dean, Emeritus Professor of Anatomy, Division of Biosciences; Professorial Research Associate, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London
In 1912, British paleontologist Arthur Smith Woodward and amateur antiquarian Charles Dawson announced the discovery of a hominin in Sussex, England, thought to be a possible “missing link” between apes and humans. Referred to as Piltdown Man, the find made headlines, but ultimately turned out to be one of the most infamous scientific frauds of all time. Christopher Dean will discuss the history of the hoax, the modus operandi of the forger, and why Piltdown Man continues to be studied a century later.
Presented in collaboration with the Departments of Anthropology, Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology.
This event is part of Race, Representation, and Museums Lecture Series.