Amateur fossil hunter, Norman Soffett from Southampton, has reportedly discovered a skull dating back almost 2 million years, pre-dating the most recent ice-age.
If, as believed, the skull belongs to the Pliocene epoch of the Tertiary period, then it could be the oldest example of our human ancestors discovered on the Island to date.
Norman made his amazing discovery whilst searching for fossils between Colwell Bay and Totland Bay last weekend.
'I knew it were something special', said Norman.
Prof. Brian (Bones) Tuttle, Director of Anthropology at the University of Southampton agrees. 'It is certainly special', he exclaimed at a press conference earlier today.
'What is particularly unusual is the amount of teeth noted. The normal amount of teeth for the average adult is 32, including wisdom teeth. Our Ice-Age skull has 36 teeth present, two additional canines and two further bicuspids.'
Prof. Tuttle's interesting theory, is that during the Tertiary period there would have been an abundance of oysters and other crustaceans in that particular area. The extra teeth may have evolved to enable the hominid to break into the shells of such sea-creatures.
Isle of Wight pensioner, Horace Spittlethrop (63) has an altogether more sinister explanation. 'It be the skull of a vampire', he said earlier 'The island be full of them. We having a saying here on the island', he whispered. 'Ne'er venture to the Woods of Biddlesford when the moon is full, when vampires seek for blood and the Greezlings and Turdwurzles are abroad.'
Interesting indeed, but local dentist Maurice Molar, from the Medina Dental Practice in Ventnor favours Prof. Tuttle's explanation. 'In fact', he reported 'I have come across one or two cases myself, amongst patients on the Island, who seem to have retained these additional teeth without any adverse effects whatsoever'.
One such person, 67 year old spinster Doris Thropston, confirmed that her additional teeth had never been any trouble. 'They've never given me any trouble dear', she confirmed. 'In fact they've come in useful on several occassions when I couldn't put my hands on the tin-opener!'
