Craniometry

Craniometry is the scientific measurement of skulls and the study of skull shapes, sizes, and the variations thereof. It is a branch of Anthropology and Human biology that has been used in various forms of Scientific racism.

History

Craniometry was developed in the 19th century by Samuel George Morton, an American physician. Morton collected hundreds of human skulls from around the world and started trying to find a way to classify them according to some logical criteria. He was influenced by the common European belief of his time that intelligence was related to the size of the brain and, consequently, the size of the skull.

Methodology

Craniometry involves the measurement of the skull, specifically the cranium, which is the upper part of the skull that encloses the brain. The measurements are taken using a variety of tools such as calipers and tape measures. The measurements are then used to calculate various indices, such as the cephalic index, which is the ratio of the maximum width of the head to its maximum length.

Criticism and Controversy

Craniometry has been criticized for its use in justifying racial and ethnic stereotypes. It has been used to support the notion of racial superiority and inferiority, which has led to its association with scientific racism. Despite these criticisms, craniometry continues to be used in certain areas of research, such as forensic anthropology.

See Also

• Anthropometry
• Phrenology
• Scientific racism
• Forensic anthropology

References

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Craniometry

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  Craniometry skull from 1902
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  Huxley's "Man's Place in Nature"
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  Primate skull series with legend
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  Ripley map of cephalic index in Europe
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  Morton drawing