Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/355

 ASPECTS OF THE ARYAN QUESTION 341

Of all these races only one is found everywhere in the neo- lithic sepultures — the dolichocephalic-blond, Homo EuropcBus. In certain regions this type is found alone, in forms varying somewhat, but often identical with those of the present popula- tion of the same localit)^ In other sections it is represented by individuals of practically pure race, and also by cross-breeds, in which the type is, however, clearly recognizable. In most localities, however, this race is found represented by only a part, perhaps one-half, of the remains in the sepultures. Among the other elements the brachycephalics become more and more numerous toward the end of the polished-stone period, and they are represented by very diverse types, the greater part of which do not correspond to any fixed race existing at the present day.

The remains that are found in the sepultures of the polished- stone period probably do not represent accurately the relative proportion of the different races in the population of the time. A careful study of the sepultures leads to the conclusion that the skulls and other bones belong almost exclusively to the chiefs or to families above the masses of the people, and these

regard it as originating in the south of Russia have not connected it by any genea- logical tie with the yellow races. It is different, however, in the case of the brachy- cephalics who have been for a long time regarded as directly related to //. Scythicus, the brachycephalic Tartar of central Asia. This idea is connected at once with the theory of the Asiatic origin of the Aryans, these being regarded by certain writers as brachycephalic, and with the theory of Pruner-Bey, which associated all the primitive inhabitants of Europe, even the dolichocephalics, with the yellow races. This last theory is not wholly incorrect. H. priscus was certainly very closely related to the Esquimaux, and the latter have several characteristics in common with the yellow races, especially the color of the skin, to which so much importance was attached in the rudimentary stage of anthropology. The false part of Pruner-Bey's theory is the attempt to establish a tie of blood-relationship between the brachycephalics of Europe and those of Asia.

The Mongolian characteristics occasionally appearing among western people may be adequately explained by occasional crossing with isolated individuals of the Mongolian or the Chinese type who came in connection with the incursions of the Middle Ages or under various circumstances. These characteristics are of extreme tenacity, and may reappear through atavism after an interval of many generations. Often, also, the supposed resemblances are due simply to individual variation, the possible range of which is greater than often supposed.

Our ultra-brachycephalics of the regions of the C^vennes and of the eastern Alps far excel any of the Mongols in the degree of their brachycephaly. This brachy- cephaly is, moreover, the sole characteristic which they have in common with the