| Abstract: |
This article reviews palaeoanthropological research in Indonesia since 1889 in terms of fossil discoveries. Of the three periods identified, the second one (19311941) resulted in more finds than the other two. Most finds are skull fragments of Pithecanthropus erectus, from the Middle Pleistocene Kabuh formation, and from the site of Sangiran. New code numbers are given to the finds to facilitate discussion, especially in the cases of previous misnumbering and controversial specimens. KAr dating gives an antiquity of 1·9 ± 0·4 million years for the Jetis beds at Perning (site of the Mojokerto juvenile calvaria) and 830,000 years for the Trinil beds at Sangiran (sites of Sangiran 10 and 12 calottes). Work on chronometric dating is continuing. Several re-examinations of earlier finds from Java have been performed in the last two decades. Finds during this period are reviewed and described, comprising one calvaria, two skull caps, two mandibular fragments, skull vault and base fragments, and teeth. One mandibular fragment is related to Meganthropus, but no skull fragments are associated with this to make its taxonomic status clearer. For the first time portion of the cranial base anterior to the foramen magnum and the zygomatic bone of Pithecanthropus erectus are available. The fossil finds demonstrate the genetic consistency of Pithecanthropus as revealed by the morphology of the skull. Palaeoanthropological research goes on, slowly but surely, especially in the Sangiran dome area of Central Java.
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