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Is it possible for a "transitional" skull to be very simply a deformed human or ape skull? Aren't some humans born with gross deformities, sometimes in many features?
Anything is possible. But as Jazzns says in the post above, why would we only find these deformities as a function of geologic depth? Why don't we find normal, modern human/ape skulls at the same depth? There is no reason, other than in an attempt to ignore the data, to propose that these skulls are due to birth defects. This also ignores the fact that the skull is only one aspect that is transitional. Don't forget that the teeth, pelvic girdle, arm length to body ratios, etc. all point to these fossils as being transitional as well. The skull is just one piece of evidence.