In 1899, K.A. Haberer found a tooth in the Peking mountains that he said was unmistakable human. His findings were unpublished and left for another 20 years until a man named Davidson Black found two more teeth that also resembled human teeth. The news was spread world-wide and excavation began immediately. Because of carbon dating, these skeletons were determined to be roughly 500,000 years old.

In 1933, 40 individual bodies were found in that particular area of China. They were named Peking Man. All 40 of the skeletons were missing bones.

In 1941, the 40 skeletons were put on display in the Peking Museum in China. During World War I, it was feared that the skeletons would be destroyed by the Japanese, so they were shipped to the United States for safe keeping. When the boat arrived at the harbor, all 40 skeletons we missing. To this day, they are still missing.

In 1956, another dig was made and they found 10 almost complete skeletons. Nine of the skeletons were missing heads and 1 skull was in perfect condition. The experts did not know what to make of this. They asked other experts led by Robert Gish to visit the site. He discovered that the excavated site was actually a fire pit. The rumor arose that Peking Man was used as a food source for man. Because the heads were missing, it was thought that the skulls were smashed and the brains used for food. Now scientists believe that the Peking Man was just a higher form of evolved ape.

To this day the 40 skeletons have not been found. Many scientists still continue to try and crack the mystery behind Peking Man but have not been successful.