Do you know the whereabouts of Peking man's skull? Write a short article according to your inquiry.

1929 65438+February 2, an important moment in paleoanthropology research, the skull of Peking man was excavated! The discovery of Peking man's skull provides strong evidence for the theory from ape to man. 1936 With the efforts of scientific researchers, exciting news came again. This year, three adult ape-man skull fossils were discovered.

1937 is the golden age of site excavation. However, after the Lugouqiao Incident, the excavation work in Zhoukoudian was interrupted, but researchers were still able to sort out fossils in the Cenozoic research room of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

By 194 1, Japan-US relations have become increasingly tense. In Peiping, which was occupied by the Japanese army at that time, the Japanese army began to occupy some neutral American institutions in Peiping. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, where Peking man skull fossils are kept, is an American property, but it seems that it is not immune. In this case, the Cenozoic laboratory decided to find a safer storage place for Peking man fossils.

There were three treatments at that time. First, the fossils were transported to Chongqing, the rear area of the Anti-Japanese War, but in the war environment, it is difficult to guarantee the safety of long-distance transportation; Second, it is buried in Peiping, but the security of the occupied area cannot be guaranteed; Third, shipped to the United States for preservation. Judging from the situation at that time, the third treatment scheme is the best choice.

According to Hu Chengzhi, a paleoanthropologist, all the fossils excavated in Zhoukoudian are the property of China, so it is forbidden to transport them out of China. So the people in the American legation refused to accept it. After the coordination of the National Government and the consent and authorization of the American Ambassador to China in Chongqing, the American Embassy in Beiping received these precious ancient human fossils and prepared to transport them safely to the United States for preservation.

Hu Chengzhi carefully wrapped the fossils and then transported them away. He lamented that I was probably the last person in China to see the Peking man fossil, and no one in China saw or knew its whereabouts.

Secret escort of American troops

19411In the early morning of February 5, a special train of the US Marine Corps left Beiping, which was said to be loaded with fossils of Peking man skulls. After the train arrived in Qinhuangdao as planned, the fossils were transported to the ship "President Harrison" and then to the United States.

The person in charge of this consignment is Welfare, a retired naval doctor who is about to leave China for the United States. Two boxes of fossils were mixed in his 27 boxes of luggage and sent to the train.

This was quite secret at the time, Foley said. In Qinhuangdao, Welfare's assistant Davis is responsible for receiving special luggage. Davis said, I'll get those bags. There are 27 cases. I put them all in my room.

Foley waited for the next day to return to China on the "President Harrison". However, the next day, that is,194165438+February 8, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan, and the Pacific War broke out. The Japanese army quickly occupied American institutions in China, and the barracks of the US Marine Corps in Qinhuangdao were also occupied by the Japanese army. Foley and Davis became prisoners. In the prison camp in Tianjin, Foley and others received the luggage from Qinhuangdao barracks one after another, but the skulls of Beijingers were gone.

The abnormal behavior of the Japanese army

Did the fossils fall into the hands of the Japanese army? After half a year, Hasebe, a professor at the University of Tokyo, and Mark Gao, an assistant professor, suddenly claimed in the English version of Peking News that the Peking man's skull preserved by Union Medical College Hospital had been stolen. The Japanese seem to be sending the message that the Japanese have not found any skull fossils in Qinhuangdao.

Soon, the search for Peking man's skull was in full swing. It is worth noting that the Japanese are particularly hard at hunting, and almost all the people involved in the excavation work are subject to censorship.

Paleoanthropologist Pei Wenzhong was imprisoned for 48 days. His children recalled that experience: it was a morning in early May of 1944 ... some Japanese in military uniforms rushed to the north house where my parents lived with guns. Ten minutes later, the Japanese pushed my father out. In the Japanese gendarmerie, when asked about the whereabouts of his father "Beijinger", his parents all said "I don't know". As soon as I said I didn't know, the Japanese started fighting. At worst, they threw pepper water and beat my father unconscious. Worst of all, according to my father, it was the day he came out, and he came to interrogate you again, saying that Pei Wenzhong was going to shoot you. what do you have to say? I left you a pen and paper. Please write a suicide note. Father began to write, and the Japanese smiled and said, Pei Wenzhong wants you to go home today.

Paleoanthropologist Zhou Guoxing recalled: At that time, there was a news that Tianjin had discovered these things ... Then, many detainees were released inexplicably ... If the Japanese gendarmerie failed, how could it be released so easily?

1In August, 945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. The Japanese announcement soon claimed that a batch of ancient human fossils looted in Tokyo, together with the looted excavation tools, had been handed over to the allied authorities and returned to China. However, there are no Peking man fossils in the list of Japanese returned items received by the China government from the allied headquarters. At the invitation of the Japanese government, the allied headquarters also used the allied troops stationed in China to participate in a large-scale search, but found nothing.