How would one go about legally obtaining a real human skull?

March 12, 2006 10:59 PM

How would one go about legally obtaining a real human skull?
posted by Espoo2 to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

this site came up under sponsored links when i searched for medical teaching aids. I have no clue if they're legit, but searching for teaching aids seems to be the trick.
posted by MadamM at 11:06 PM on March 12, 2006

or, perhaps, the obvious choice, skulls unlimited. Although this site is more creeoy than the other one. Plus, skulls are expensive.
posted by MadamM at 11:08 PM on March 12, 2006

Oh my god you can buy baby skulls. And a carrying case. If I ever become a mad scientist I know where to go.
posted by MadamM at 11:09 PM on March 12, 2006

Searching eBay for skull seems to yield several
posted by Robot Johnny at 11:17 PM on March 12, 2006

The Bone Room was a shopping destination in a recent-ish MythBusters episode. Apparently their human skulls start at $350.
posted by sanitycheck at 2:06 AM on March 13, 2006

If you're around New York, you can go skull-shopping at Evolution. They have a large selection of skulls and other human bits (even complete infant skeletons).
posted by ilyanassa at 6:58 AM on March 13, 2006

Carolina Biological carried them years ago when I used to deal with them.
posted by AstroGuy at 8:16 AM on March 13, 2006

Sorry but I just have to share this. An anthropology prof I once had told a story about a site he had to work on in an underground mausoleum in Baltimore. It seems that many of the bodies interned there were noticably missing skulls, fingers, and things of that nature...the prof's team was sent in to figure out why. It turns out that the homeless population was using the crypt (which was something of a catacomb) as a shelter in the winter, being underground and typically warmer than outside.

At first they looted the obvious stuff, jewelry and wedding rings and what not. That explains the fingers. But apparently one of them figured out that an easy way to make 15 or 20 dollars was to decapitate one of the crypt's older residents, then sell it to a medical student at the nearby medical school. By the time this was figured out a lot of people lost their heads.

So to answer your question, go hang out around a big city med school and talk to the bums. You never know.

(another aside- sorry- best friend in high school's dad had a real human skull whose origins he refused to divulge. The man used it as a pencil holder.)
posted by baphomet at 8:49 AM on March 13, 2006 [1 favorite]

At one time, you could get Chinese skulls for a relatively low price on eBay.
posted by kalimac at 8:56 AM on March 13, 2006

I think I found the medical teaching link last year some time. Whether that was exactly it or not is debatable. But I do remember that they charged more for a more complete skull (teeth and stuff) My favorite part was that while the complete skulls were teaching aids the lower priced skulls were "Suitable for ritualistic purposes"
posted by Mark5four0 at 10:06 AM on March 13, 2006

Out of curiosity, why do you need it?
posted by radioamy at 11:10 AM on March 13, 2006

There was a place on Melrose called 'Necromance' while I was a med student in L.A. They had a wonderful skull - every feature and tooth intact - for $650 and some banged up old skulls for less. I couldn't afford to buy the nice skull, but I often think of it.

There are ethical issues involved in the acquisiton and use of human body parts. I suggest that you consider carefully what purpose you might want them for, that a plastic skull wouldn't serve just as well.
posted by ikkyu2 at 3:07 PM on March 13, 2006