[CPProt.net] Australian archaeologist drafted damning letter describing damage to bones of "Hobbit", 18, 000-year-old hominid remains found on Indonesian island

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Hobbit skeleton 'damaged'
By Leigh Dayton
11mar05
AN Australian archaeologist has drafted a damning letter describing
extensive damage to the bones of the "Hobbit", the 18,000-year-old hominid
remains found on an Indonesian island.

But his Indonesian counterpart has refused to send it, fearing a scientific
backlash. 

The letter, written by Mike Morwood of the University of New England in
Armidale, NSW, accuses a prominent Indonesian paleoanthropologist of causing
the damage. 

The letter to 79-year-old Teuku Jacob of Gadjah Mada University in
Yogjakarta accuses him of engaging in "totally unprofessional" behaviour
regarding the remains. 

Speaking from Jakarta, Associate Professor Morwood said: "It needs to be a
matter of record." 

Along with Indonesian archaeologist Radien Soejono, Professor Morwood co-led
the team that discovered the ancient skeleton on the Indonesian island of
Flores in 2003. 

Despite documentary evidence and contradiction from key scientists,
Professor Jacob denies damaging the delicate remains after he took them to
his laboratory last year. 

"The fossils were not damaged," Professor Jacob said. 

"We have pictures taken until the last day (they were in my laboratory) and
they are intact." He was reportedly forced to return the specimens last
month after pressure from the international media and Indonesian
politicians, who were embarrassed by the incident. 

Tony Djubiantono, director of the International Centre for Archaeology in
Jakarta, disagreed with Professor Jacob's contention that the damage
occurred as the fossils were being transported back to the centre. 

"This is impossible ... I don't believe that," said Dr Djubiantono, who
claimed he argued with Professor Jacob over the matter. 

Still, after meeting with Professor Morwood on Wednesday, Dr Djubiantono
decided against signing and sending the letter. 

Dr Djubiantono claimed that Professor Jacob threatened to "blow up this
story like a fire" and put future research at risk if an official complaint
was made. 

Dr Djubiantono said he was "not worried" that the centre's reputation would
suffer if Professor Jacob was not held accountable for the damage. 

"He's an old man looking out for his position," he said. 


http://www.themercury.news.com.au/