The Piltdown ManThe Piltdown Man

The Missing Link between The Missing Link between Primates and Humans?Primates and Humans?

Missing link foundMissing link found

Darwin in his theory of evolution believes Darwin in his theory of evolution believes that humans are descended from that humans are descended from Primates.Primates.

On 18 December 1912 newspapers On 18 December 1912 newspapers throughout the world ran headlines - throughout the world ran headlines - mostly along the lines of: 'mostly along the lines of: 'Missing Link Missing Link Found - Darwin's Theory ProvedFound - Darwin's Theory Proved'.'.

Skull foundSkull found

A skull was found in the Piltdown Quarry in A skull was found in the Piltdown Quarry in Sussex.Sussex.

It looked like a human skull but with It looked like a human skull but with primate teeth.primate teeth.

This was it. The theory was proven. The This was it. The theory was proven. The missing link was real.missing link was real.

A reconstruction of what A reconstruction of what the Piltdown man would the Piltdown man would

have looked like.have looked like.

What do you think?What do you think?

Do you believe the Piltdown man is real?Do you believe the Piltdown man is real?All the scientists believed that this was the All the scientists believed that this was the

biggest breakthrough in science for biggest breakthrough in science for hundreds of years.hundreds of years.

Well???????

The Biggest HoaxThe Biggest Hoax

Some 40 years later a team of English Some 40 years later a team of English scientists dramatically exposed Piltdown scientists dramatically exposed Piltdown Man as a deliberate fraud.Man as a deliberate fraud.

Instead of being almost a million years old, Instead of being almost a million years old, the skull fragments were found to be 500 the skull fragments were found to be 500 years old, and the jaw in fact belonged to years old, and the jaw in fact belonged to an orang-utan. an orang-utan.

Someone had glued orang-utan’s teeth to Someone had glued orang-utan’s teeth to a human skull!!!a human skull!!!

Ask yourselfAsk yourself

Now can you believe everything you read?Now can you believe everything you read?How about everything you are told?How about everything you are told?

Be careful and look for evidence before Be careful and look for evidence before you believe it.you believe it.