The Different Types Of Skulls

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by Chase Reiner

Skulls come in various types, including human, animal, and symbolic skulls. There are over 1,500 species of animals with unique skull shapes. Human skulls consist of 22 bones, and symbolic skulls are often used in art and culture, like the sugar skulls in Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

European Skull Characteristics

Skulls are the most common bone in the human body. Human skulls are made up of many different bones and there are different types to be found all over the world! This blog post is going to tell you everything that you need to know about European Skulls, what they look like, and how they’re shaped.

In order for a skull to classify as a European skull, it must have four holes on either side where nerves come out from the brain called temporal fossae. They also usually have larger eye sockets which make them perfect for people with large eyes like Europeans because their eyebrows don’t obscure their vision too much when looking down or to one side- these guys had a lot of time outdoors!

European skulls typically would have an almost flat forehead, as well as a very small and narrow face; the upper jaw is bigger than the lower one.

The different types of skulls are European Skulls, African Skulls, Mongolian Skulls, and Ancient Native American Skulls- these skulls bear little resemblance to each other because they come from different parts of the world with different climates!

Asian Skull Characteristics

Asian skulls can be seen to have a more oval shape than other types of skulls. This is because some Asian people are descended from Mongolian and Tibetan ancestors. The back part of the skull is also different in that it has a visible area called the “zygomatic arch”.

A zygomatic arch, or malar bone, connects a person’s cheekbone with their temporal bone (which forms the side and upper jaw). When you smile your outer face muscles pull on these bones creating an arched appearance. This gives many expressions to facial features as well. In contrast, Caucasian skulls will often not have this feature which makes them look very flat when they smile.

African Skull Characteristics

African skulls are different because they have a narrower and longer shape than other types of skulls. The back part of the African skull has the zygomatic arch that is connected to their cheekbone as well, which gives extra expression when they smile. This also affects how much light will hit this area from below, giving them more prominent shadows on their cheeks.

African peoples’ teeth will show through a little bit when they smile due to having a narrower shape than most other people’s heads; however, this point is also quite individualistic for members within an ethnic group since there are no set guidelines about where these gaps should go. For instance, neighboring countries like Sudan and Chad could each have different standards around how someone smiles showing their teeth–or even if at all!

American Skull Characteristics

The American skull is typically similar to the European type of shape but instead has a more rounded back with a square-shaped front. This gives their faces an almost diamond look in that it’s wider at both sides and narrower towards the top.

Some people from this ethnic group also have slightly differently shaped teeth thanks to having different jaws than most other races–specifically, because they are taller on each side as well as lower in height due to not being able to fit them all into one mouth row!

This can make it difficult for these individuals who want dental work done since there isn’t always enough space left over between any two adjacent teeth when something needs fixing or replaced; however, some dentists will still do what they can to help.

The vaults of the cranium, which is found above the eyes and are what cover them to protect them from bumps or errant objects that would otherwise hit your eyeballs really hard–a feature we’ll explore in a coming post!–are also shaped differently for this skull type. They’re more rounded than they are pointy at the top; therefore, when it comes time to measure their head circumference you’ll need different metric ruler measurements depending on if someone has an Asian or Caucasian-type skull!

Types of Human Skull Shapes

The human skull is not just a single, uniform shape. Rather, it can be categorized into various kinds depending on ethnicity, genetic inheritance, and other environmental factors. Understanding these differences in skull shapes can be useful in various fields, including anthropology, archaeology, forensic science, and human biology. Here are some of the commonly recognized human skull shapes:

1. Dolichocephalic

Dolichocephalic skulls are relatively longer and narrower. They typically have a longitudinal diameter that is noticeably larger than the transverse diameter. This skull type is common among some European and African populations.

2. Brachycephalic

The brachycephalic skull type is broader and shorter compared to the dolichocephalic type. It has a high breadth-to-length ratio. This skull shape is often seen among East Asians, as well as some European communities.

3. Mesocephalic

The mesocephalic skull shape falls between dolichocephalic and brachycephalic types in terms of proportions. It’s considered the most average or intermediate skull shape, common among various populations across the globe.

4. Hyperbrachycephalic

This skull shape is even wider than the brachycephalic version. It is characterized by a breadth that is over 80% of the length, creating a nearly round shape. This type is less common and may often be a result of certain medical conditions such as craniosynostosis.

5. Plagiocephaly

Plagiocephaly refers to a skull shape that is asymmetrical, often flat on one side, due to pressure on a certain part of the skull. It’s most commonly observed in infants and might be a result of their sleeping positions or other environmental factors.

6. Scaphocephaly

Scaphocephaly is characterized by an elongated, boat-like shape. This skull shape often results from the premature fusion of the sagittal suture, one of the connections between skull bones.

FAQS

What Is The Difference Between A European Skull And An Asian Skull?

European skulls are wedge-shaped in that they have a pointed top while most of the head’s width comes from its length. Asians, on the other hand, have more rounded vaults and much narrower heads when compared to their height.

Where Does This Type Of Skull Originate From?

This type originates in Europe but has migrated over time into Asia–for instance China!–and can be seen there today as well. As for what makes it different from your average human: these individuals tend to suffer migraines often because their teeth are shaped differently so chewing would be harder or less effective with something like rice grains which need significant grinding before being swallowed.

Can You Identify Race By Skull?

No, you cannot. While skulls are different from one another due to a variety of factors–such as genetics and diet!–we do not have enough evidence that they can tell us about someone’s ethnicity or race for the most part. It is possible that we experienced any kind of trauma before death like being scalped or decapitated but again this would require more information than what was originally given when it comes to bones in order to make an accurate assessment of who the individual might be.

References:

https://boneclones.com/product/human-male-and-female-skulls-african-asian-and-european-COMP-120-SET
https://sciencing.com/types-of-human-skull-shapes-12081248.html