Independent Instances of “Souvenir” Asian Skulls from the Tampa Bay Area

Abstract

In the summer of 1984, police in Pinellas County, Florida, confiscated six identically colored imported Asian skulls (in a shipping case) from a private citizen. In May 1988, in nearby Hillsborough County, police confiscated a very similar skull from another private citizen, who allegedly had found it in an abandoned house. Aside from slight color differences between the six found in Pinellas County and the one found in Hillsborough County, the skulls are virtually identical in their osteological characteristics and condition and in the vital statistics derived from each. Each skull is as clean and dry as those typically sold by commercial scientific supply outlets in the United States. Each is edentulous (primarily premortem), between approximately 20 and 60 years of age at death, and morphologically Asian. Five of the seven are morphologically male, one is morphologically female, and one is a mosaic with respect to gender-related features. Police, medical examiners, coroners, and forensic anthropologists should be aware of such “souvenir” specimens, in the event that they encounter similar skulls. Discriminant function analyses for race and sex yield considerably conflicting results, which underscores the need for using extreme caution when interpreting forensic science estimates based on such techniques.

A Comparative Taphonomic Analysis of 24 Trophy Skulls from Modern Forensic Cases,

“…While some characteristics (such as perimortem trauma, pen or pencil markings, thermal alteration) are likely to be reported upon by any author in most contexts, other features (such as adhering insect casings, dust, patina from handling) are more subtle and may not have been deemed of sufficient importance to report. Other available studies could not be used for direct comparison due to a lack of specific taphonomic and/or acquisition details or due to their more generalized identification as “souvenir” skulls .…”

The Anatomical Diaspora: Evidence of Early American Anatomical Traditions in North Dakota

“…Perhaps, the best‐documented instance of discovery of anatomical remains is the excavation at the Medical College of Georgia (16). Although presenting an identical degree of medicolegal significance, another type of prepared skeletal specimen, the trophy skull, has a much greater representation in the forensic literature (26–30). Certainly, the analysis of trophy skulls could ultimately lead to identification of products derived from the activity of a serial killer.…”

Beyond Taphonomy: Exploring Craniometric Variation Among Anatomical Material

“…The skeletal material purchased from India prior to that ban continues to be used in classrooms, teaching laboratories, and medical schools around the country. Unfortunately, some of this anatomical material also surfaces during routine forensic anthropological investigations . When anatomical material is encountered, the forensic anthropologist needs to establish the material as an anatomical preparation and demonstrate that it is not forensically significant.…”