author
Sir Arthur Keith
1866–1955
A leading British anatomist and anthropologist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he wrote widely on human evolution and helped shape public debate about fossil discoveries. His career was influential, though some of his ideas are now seen as deeply flawed and tied to scientific racism.
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About the author
Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1866, Arthur Keith trained in medicine at the University of Aberdeen before building a long career in anatomy and physical anthropology. He became closely associated with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, serving as conservator of the Hunterian Museum and later as Hunterian Professor.
Keith was known for his work on human anatomy, fossil humans, and evolution. He published extensively and became an important public voice on questions of human origins, studying material from Europe, North Africa, and Mount Carmel. He was also a strong supporter of the Piltdown Man fossil, a famous mistake that later proved to be a hoax.
His reputation today is mixed. Alongside his scientific influence, he is also remembered for promoting racist theories that are now discredited. That makes him a significant but controversial figure in the history of anthropology.