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Royal Geographical Society, London,Archives, Journal mss, Australia 1872 Mueller. 72.01.31aPreferred Citation:
James Rudall to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1872-01-31 [72.01.31a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1870-9/1872/72-01-31a-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026
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MS marked 'Copy' and written by unknown. M is assumed to be the addressee, because
of the reference to bones in M to H. Rawlinson, 1 February 1872 (in this edition as 72-02-01a).
The largest fragment, of irregular oblong shape measured about 2½ (two and a half inches) by 2" (two inches) and its greatest thickness was about 4''' (four lines) — it looks like a portion of the vault of the skull; it is much altered
by atmospheric influences, and has a worm eaten appearance. One remarkable piece is
almost certainly part of a human petrous bone of the left side showing the internal
auditory meatus and part of the jugular fossa.
Another piece was apparently part of the corresponding (petrous) bone of the opposite
side. Other small fragments seemed to be parts of the spheroid bone.
There are besides portions of bone which I must suppose to be parts of vertebrae (of
body and arch) and parts of long bones (fibula? clavicle? femur etc.)
The largest fragment of a long bone was about 2½" (two and a half inches) in length, from 7''' (seven lines) to 9''' (nine lines) in
width and 3''' (three lines) to 4''' (four lines) in thickness.
Two fragments of cancellous bone each with part of an articulating surface remind
me strongly of the glenoid cavity of the scapula.
Several pieces of the long bones have their ends even and smooth.
It is my belief that all these pieces of bone are parts of a human skeleton, and I
incline to think of the skeleton of a tall man.
(Signed)
James T Rudall
F.R.C.S
Jan 31st, 1872.