Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/Osteo. 879
Scientific nameHomo sapiens
CollectionHunterian
CategoryDry preparations
Object nameSkull, General Osteology of Man, Un-mounted dry bone
DescriptionThe skull of a male from the Caribbean.
This skull formed part of Hunter's series showing the osteology of different human races. Hunter believed that the angle or slope of the face in humans and animals could be used to arrange different races and species in a progressive order. In this order he saw Europeans as being higher up the scale, or more 'perfect', than African races. Hunter's ideas were shared by several contemporaries, notably the Dutch anatomist Peter Camper. Although some recent historians have argued that neither Camper nor Hunter's work was inherently racist, their ideas did influence 19th century racial theories that were used to justify the exploitation and oppression of 'native' races.
As none of Hunter's notes on his collection of skulls have survived we don't know whether he believed the shape of this skull to have been the result of artificial deformation. Hunter certainly believed that other parts of the human body could be shaped during life. At least one contemporary visitor to Hunter's collection thought that the possibility of artificial deformation undermined any attempt to class human races by skull shape. James Beattie (1735-1802) visited the Hunters in London in 1773. In his diary he noted that Hunter was 'of the opinion, that the Negroes are removed from us one degree in the scale of animals, and approach towards the monkey; but his reasons are not satisfying. The tendency of the negro's scull [sic], when placed on a table, to lean backwards; the flatness of the nose, and the bluntness of the chin, may be the effect of a difft. treatment when they are children. Every body knows that in infancy the scull will receive almost any shape.'
Production date 1760 - 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Physical Location
LocationNot on public display: contact museum for access conditions
Physical Information
Physical descriptionDry preparation of bone un-mounted.
Dimensions
whole weight: 950 g
Bibliography
SourceDobson 1970-71
Transcript879 The skull of a male Carib from one of the Caribbean Islands. It has a remarkably flat and receding forehead, probably from the effects of compression in infancy. The nasals are large and prominent; the lower jaw is large, with a prominent chin.
