Preconception

Piltdown was particularly damaging for us in Britain, because British scientists clung to it for far longer than they should have done. It clouded their judgment and affected their interpretations of genuine fossils.

Part of the cleverness of the hoax was the way in which it suited preconceived ideas about what early humans should look like. (realllly ? ? IF)

Hopefully, the Piltdown saga has taught those of us who study the evolution of humans some important lessons that we should apply today. (‘evolution of humans’ is not a hold over from the good old days when the focus was on the death of God, get rid of Him any way that you can ? ! ? ! IF )
Firstly, we mustn't let preconceived ideas run away with us. Secondly, specimens have to pass certain basic tests. (like find out how OLD they are – not how old your preconceived idea says that they should be ! ! IF)
Science is also self-correcting. In Britain, during the first half of the 20th Century, people simply shut their minds to other evidence and continued to believe in Piltdown because it fitted their beliefs and was the only significant human fossil we had.

We now have genuine human fossils to speak of from Britain, including a shinbone and teeth from Boxgrove dating to about 500,000 years ago (500,000 yrs old give or take 500,000 years ?? ARE you reallllllllly sure they are human ?? Hows come sooo many fossils are not rock after 500,000 yrs and so many of them still smell?? How can you prove that the whole thing is not one giant hoax?? IF)