Cranium Collection (#10)

Late archaic Homo sapiens cranium (Skhul 9)
The cranium of late archaic Homo sapiens known as Skhul 9 discovered at the Skhul Cave, Israel. This specimen dates to back 105, 000 years ago

Homo sapiens cranium (UC 101)
Skull UC 101 discovered at the upper cave (Shandingdong), Zhoukoudian, China. This specimen belonging to Modern Homo sapiens dates back to 30, 000 years ago

Diprotodon skull
Diprotodon is the largest known marsupial mammal. This herbivore was over 3 metres long and lived up to 30, 000 years ago in Australia

Archaic Homo sapiens cranium (Laetoli 18)
A front view of a cranium belonging to Archaic Homo sapiens dating back to 150, 000 years ago. This specimen known as Laetoli 18 was discovered within the Ngaloba bed at Laetoli in Tanazania

Orcaella brevirostris, Irrawaddy dolphin
Photograph of the dorsal view of the skull of an Irrawaddy dolphin

Homo neanderthalensis cranium (Tabun 1)
Front view of the skull of a female Homo neanderthalensis discovered at Tabun at Mt. Carmel, Israel. The specimen known as Tabun 1 dates back to around 100, 000 year ago

Australopithecus africanus cranium & mandible (Sts 5)
Cast reconstruction of cranium & mandible belonging to Australopithecus africanus discovered at Sterkfontein by Dr Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson in April 1947

Homo erectus cranium (Ngandong 12)
The cranium (cast) of a young adult male discovered at Ngandong on the Solo River terrace near Randublatung, Java. It was excavated by C. ter Haar and team in 1931-33. This specimen dates back c

Homo sapiens cranium (Omo 2)
Frontal view of a cranium belonging to Archaic Homo sapiens dating back to 130, 000 years ago. This specimen is a cast of the skull known as Omo 2 discovered in 1967 at the Omo River, Ethiopia

Homo sapiens cranium (Omo 1)
A reconstruction of Homo sapiens skull discovered By the team of Richard Leakey in 1967. Location: Kibish, north west of Kenya Camp near Shiangoro Village east of River Omo

Homo sapiens cranium (Border Cave 1)
Lateral view of cast of a Homo sapiens skull discovered at Liujiang (or Liukiang), Kwangsi Province, China by farm workers in 1958. Upper Pleistocene 130, 000-12, 000 BP

Homo sapiens (Wadjak 1) cranium
Frontal view of cast of cranium belonging to adult female Homo sapiens (Wadjak 1) living about 6, 000 years ago discovered in Wadjak, East Java, Indonesia

Megaladapis edwardsi, giant lemur
Skull of the giant lemur, Megaladapis edwardsi. The giant lemur was roughly gorilla-sized and lived as recently as 2, 000 year ago. Specimen dates from the Quaternary, near Ampoza, S.W Madagascar

Homo sapiens (Singa 1) cranium endocast
An endocast of a heavily mineralized cranium once belonging to that of Homo sapiens who lived about 130, 000 years ago. This specimen was discovered in Singa, Sudan by W.R.G. Bond in 1924

Homo erectus, Peking man cranium (reconstruction)
Reconstruction of a female Homo erectus cranium based upon the remains from many individuals discovered at Zhoukoudian Cave (Locality 1), China dating back 500, 000 years

Diplodocus carnegiei skull
The skull belonging to the replica skeleton of Diplodocus carnegiei on display at the Natural History Museum, London. The slender teeth would have raked leaves from branches

Homo sapiens (Predmosti) & Homo neanderthalensis (La Ferrass

Proconsul, Homo heildebergensis & Homo neanderthalensis cran
L to R: Cranium of Proconsul, an extinct primate that lived 18 million years ago; Homo heildebergensis (Broken Hill 1) discovered in Zambia; and Homo neanderthalensis (Gibraltar 1)

Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthal Man cranium (Neanderthal
Cranium (cast) of Neanderthal 1, the original Neanderthal man discovered by workmen in 1856 in a cave at Neander Valley near Hochdahl, East of Dusseldorf, Germany

Australopithecus africanus cranium (Sts 5)
Cast reconstruction of cranium belonging to Australopithecus africanus discovered at Sterkfontein by Dr Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson in April 1947

Homo sapiens cranium (Piltdown 1)
Two pieces that represent the Piltdown 1 cranium held at The Natural History Museum, London. This specimen was reported as being discovered at Piltdown

Tyrannosaurus rex skull
Skull of the Upper Cretaceous dinosaur, on display in From the Beginning, Gallery 63, Earth Galleries at The Natural History Museum, London. Tyrannosaurus rex lived 67 to 65 million years ago

Piltdown 1 cranium
Five pieces that represent the Piltdown 1 cranium (not including jaw). Held at The Natural History Museum, London

Bulldog cranium 2004
Specimen number 2004.1034. Bulldog (male), Canis lupus familiaris

Homo habilis cranium (OH24)
Cast of a crushed cranium from Bed 1, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, (OH 24) known as Twiggy. Discovered by Discovered by Paul Nzube in 1968. The specimen dates back to between 1.75 and 2 m y a

Homo neanderthalensis (calpicus) cranium (Gibraltar 1)
Frontal view of an adult female Neanderthal cranium discovered at Forbes Quarry, Gibraltar. Its discovery was announced by Lieutenant Flint in 1848 and it is believed to be 50, 000 years old

Bulldog cranium c. 1860
Specimen number 3551, Bulldog, Canis lupus familiaris

Homo habilis cranium (OH24) (reconstruction)
Cast of a reconstructed cranium from Bed 1, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Olduvai Hominid 24, known as Twiggy (OH 24). Discovered by Paul Nzube in 1968

Homo sapiens (Goughs Cave 3) cranium
Modern human childs skull with cut marks excavated from Goughs Cave, Cheddar, Somerset. Dated at around 14, 000 to 12, 000 years old, late upper palaeolilthic (Creswellian)

Homo sapiens cranium (Skhul 5)
Frontal view of a reconstructed cast skull belonging to a male, 30-40 years old Homo sapiens, discovered at Mugharet Es-Skhul, Cave in the Wadi el-Mughara, Mt Carmel, Israel, by T.D

Homo sapiens (Ckn. UC. 101) cranium (Zhoukoudian)
Facial view of a cast of a skull belonging to Homo sapiens male. Original specimen was discovered in Upper Cave (Shandingdong), South West of Peking, China. Thought to be around 24, 000 years old

Homo sapiens cranium (Florisbad 1)
Lateral and frontal view of a cast of a Homo sapiens skull from Florisbad, South Africa. Upper Pleistocene 130, 000-12, 000 BP. Reconstructed by P. Cohen

Cranium and mandible (Piltdown 1 & 2)
Piltdown man cranium and mandible as reconstructed on the left by Dr. A Smith Woodward and on the right by Professor Arthur Keith

H. neanderthalensis (Gibraltar 1) & H. heidelbergensis (Bro
Left: Cranium of Neanderthal man discovered at Forbes quarry Gibraltar in 1848. Right: Cranium of Broken Hill, or Rhodesian man (H. heidelbergensis) discovered at Broken Hill, Zambia in 1921

Selection of Homo sapiens Crania
Left to right: Modern European Skull, Predmosti Czech Republic modern human skull, Early Homo sapiens skull from Zhoukoudian, recent human skull from China

Homo neanderthalensis (Swanscombe 1) Cranium
Three cranial bones discovered at the Barnfield Gravel Pit, Swanscombe, Kent between 1935 and 1955. Both the date and species of these homind remains have been the subject over the last decade or so

Homo sapiens crania
Two crania belonging to early Homo sapiens dating back to around 30, 000 years old from upper cave site Zhoukoudian, China

Early Homo sapiens crania (Irhoud 1 & Qafzeh 6)
Left: Cranium (cast) of early Homo sapiens discovered at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco by Mohammed Ben Fatmi in 1961. Right: Cranium (cast) of early Homo sapiens discovered at Djebel kafzeh, Israel by R

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"Cranium: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Human Skull and Beyond" Delving into the depths of human anatomy, Leonardo da Vinci's intricate sketches of skull anatomy offer a glimpse into his fascination with unraveling the secrets held within our craniums. From his detailed drawings to modern-day advancements, we continue to explore this enigmatic structure. Hominid crania provide us with a window into our evolutionary past, showcasing how our ancestors' skulls have evolved over time. With full-body scans and MRI technology, scientists can now peer inside these ancient relics, uncovering clues about their lifestyles and adaptations. In a satirical twist on phrenology - an outdated pseudoscience that claimed personality traits could be determined by skull shape - we find humor in our quest for understanding. Yet amidst the satire lies an appreciation for how far we've come in deciphering the complexities of cranial morphology. The Paranthropus boisei (Zinjanthropus) cranium (OH5) takes us back millions of years, offering insights into early hominids' robust features. Meanwhile, X-ray images reveal intricate details of both human and animal skulls – from horses to primates – highlighting similarities and differences across species. One cannot ignore Sahelanthropus tchadensis; its fossilized skull provides a crucial link between apes and humans. This remarkable discovery challenges previous notions about our origins while fueling further exploration into humanity's beginnings. But it is not just scientific curiosity that draws attention to the cranium; it also holds significance in everyday life. Headaches become tangible through X-ray artwork, capturing both pain and beauty simultaneously. The human skull itself serves as a reminder of mortality but also showcases resilience throughout history. Finally, Homo erectus' Java Man cranium (Sangiran 17) cast allows us to step back in time once more – witnessing glimpses of ancient lives and pondering the mysteries that still surround our own existence.