Final answer:
The discovery by Charles Dawson that seemed to confirm European centrism in human origins was the Piltdown Man, a hoax revealing a falsified 'missing link' between apes and humans. Real anthropological findings like Kennewick Man and Lucy have contributed to our genuine understanding of human evolution. Such incidents underpin the significance of factual verification in scientific research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discovery found by Charles Dawson in Piltdown, England, that initially seemed to support the notion of European centrism in human origins, turned out to be the notorious Piltdown Man. This fraudulent fossil was believed, at the time of its discovery in 1912, to be the 'missing link' between apes and humans, suggesting that modern humans first evolved in Europe. However, after extensive investigation, the remains were exposed as a hoax in 1953. The Piltdown Man consisted of a human skull and an orangutan's jaw, artificially aged and combined to create the appearance of a previously unknown early human ancestor. This discovery was initially embraced because it supported the belief that humanity had a European origin, in line with the Eurocentric views prevailing among some Western scientists at the time.In contrast to the falsehoods of the Piltdown Man, real anthropological discoveries such as the Kennewick Man and Lucy have significantly contributed to the understanding of human origins and migration. For instance, the Kennewick Man's features suggested a connection to Southeast Asian populations, challenging previous migration theories. The field of anthropology, together with molecular genetics, continues to offer deeper insights into human evolution. Nevertheless, due to discoveries like Piltdown Man, the importance of critical examination and verification in science cannot be overstated.