Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Pierre Teilhard De Chardin by King Ursula

Author:King, Ursula [King, Ursula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbis Books
Published: 2015-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Excavation at Zhoukoudian, Dragon Bone Hill.

The systematic excavation work at Zhoukoudian over several years eventually bore fruit. The year 1926 proved to be a turning point when two teeth were found. Davidson Black, a lively Canadian with whom Teilhard had struck up a close friendship, considered them to be human remains to which he soon gave the name Sinanthropus , or Peking Man. Teilhard, more prudent in his interpretation, was rather skeptical about the human quality of these teeth. But the find of these fossils intensified the systematic excavation of the Zhoukoudian site. The scientists were thrilled when on December 2, 1929, a real treasure was discovered. The Chinese scientist Pei Wenzhong came upon the first complete skullcap, embedded in porous rock from which it had to be carefully freed. Full of excitement, he sent a message to Black in Beijing: “Found skullcap—perfect—looks like a man's.” Teilhard was assigned the task of determining the age of the formations in which the skull had been located. His role was an important and, at times, a decisive one, but the actual discovery was the result of teamwork and collaboration between Chinese and Western scientists. Black and Teilhard sent a triumphant telegram to Boule in Paris: “New Year Greetings. Recovered Zhoukoudian uncrushed adult Sinanthropus skull entire except face. Letter follows.” 172

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