Re: Racist Devolution

Andreas Moehn (moehn@max.mpip-mainz.mpg.dbp.de)
Wed, 28 Aug 1991 15:19:00 +0100


Some researchers doubt that the American tribes can be classified so
simply as Mongolides. There are native people who do not look asian
at all but rather resemble none of the three major races anthropology
was accustomed to use.

In fact, as early as in the Fifties O.H.Muck noted a remarkable re-
semblance between modern Plains Indians (he took Sitting Bull's face
for example) and reconstructions of ancient Cro-Magnon-Men. This
resemblance is still more pronounced if you look at more recent re-
constructions. Thus Muck suggestes that these tribes may be almost
pure descendants of the Cromagnards.

On the other hand there has been a recent suggestion that the Austra-
lian Aboriginals in turn may be almost pure descendants of Neanderthal
Men. There is much controversy about both claims, though, but modern
anthropology at least uses five distinctions now: Europides, Negro-
ides, Mongolides, Indianides, and Australides (plus pygmies who are
not counted among the Negroides).

Andreas Moehn
Europe