Trying to find a striking picture of anthropologist and neanderthal.

January 9, 2009 11:21 AM

Looking for a striking photo of a modern human facing a reconstructed Neanderthal face.

Calling all physical anthropologists!

I'm trying to find a picture for a friend of mine; I first saw it in a professor's office some years ago. It's of an anthropologist who had studied Neanderthals closely, and (at least at the time) supported the hypothesis that they hadn't entirely died out, at least phenotypically. The photo was of him facing a reconstructed Neanderthal's head, both of them in profile, and looking strikingly similar. The man was probably in his early fifties, Caucasian, bald or balding and rather sturdily-built -- definitely a robust skull :) I would have seen this picture in 2000 at the earliest, and I think it wasn't terribly old then.

Can anyone track down this picture and/or the anthropologists name? My google-fu is failing me.

Thanks!

posted by kalimac to grab bag (7 comments total)

Not this?
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:51 AM on January 9

I don't know the photo that you're talking about, but there's a nontrivial chance that it could be (my old professor) Dr. Alan Mann, professor of physical anthropology who certainly has robust features.
posted by zachxman at 12:08 PM on January 9

bonobothegreat -- nope. (Although it is nice to see Geraint Wyn Davies is still finding mildly embarrassing work post-Forever Knight... /nerd)

zachxman -- that's not him, but awesome lead into the world of neanderthalis, thank you!
posted by kalimac at 1:29 PM on January 9

Was it this guy?
posted by MaryDellamorte at 1:58 PM on January 9

You are probably thinking of Milford Wolpoff, one of the architects of the Multiregional Hypothesis. Among other things, it hypothesizes that Neandertals interbred with modern humans meaning that they are ancestors of modern Europeans. The funny part is that Dr. Wolpoff looks somewhat like a stereotypical Neanderal, something he is aware of and has made jokes about. He posed for a picture facing a clay bust of a reconstructed Neandertal, and the picture appeared in copies of Conrad Kottak's anthropology textbooks (don't remember which editions) and probably other places as well. I am guessing that is the picture you are thinking of. I could not find a copy of the picture online, but I have emailed a copy of the image to the email address on file. I hope that is the one you have in mind.
posted by Tallguy at 8:35 PM on January 9

Oh, and for the others, here is a picture of Dr. Wolpoff to give you an idea.
posted by Tallguy at 8:37 PM on January 9

Geraint Wyn Davies is still finding mildly embarrassing work post-Forever Knight

I know this has little to do with the original question, but another former fan of Forever Knight, you should totally check out Season 2 of Slings and Arrows, where he plays a pompous actor playing Macbeth in Canadian theatre.
posted by Greg Nog at 2:12 PM on January 20