Out of sheer, morbid curiosity, what should a person do if he digs around in his backyard and finds a skull?

Question

...a human skull, that is.

Gut instinct suggests that he should call the authorities. But let's say that the guy in question wants to keep the skull and display it on his mantle. I mean, the authorities would take the skull away to run a bunch of tests on it, and would likely never let him have it back.

Answer 1

Call the authorities. You could help solve a murder and prevent more.

Or, what if it was a really ancient skull and you are sitting on an important archaeological site?

You can purchase a realistic model skull to display, if that appeals to you.

Er, I mean, not you, of course, but the "person" you're referring to.

Answer 2

I'd say calling the authorities would be the best course of action. If someone comes into your home and sees the theoretical skull on the mantle, I'd say there's a better-than-even chance that they're going to think YOU offed the former owner of said skull. Better the police come after the skull than after YOU!

Answer 3

Definitely call the authorities. A human skull means that's there is a family somewhere with a mssing loved one... they need closure. If the guy in question wants a human skull for his mantle, he can either buy a fake one, or skin his own head.

Answer 4

It's a problem, because it might be from some Apache graveyard that they built your house on, and then you'll have to deal with the entire Bureau of Indian Affairs, and they'll sacrifice antelopes on your patio.

Put the skull on the mantel, but make up a good story about it, like how your great-grandfather found it in Burma or somewhere.

You might want to dig around some more and see if there are any further remains.

Answer 5

The right thing to do would be to report it. Yes the skull would be taken away, & I doubt that they would be giving it back unless they could prove that it isn't evidence in a crime.
I am sure that there are laws against tampering with evidence of a crime. Since a skull buried in a place other than a cemetary is normally evidence of a crime, then it's safe to assume that if you removed the skull from the place where you dug it up, you would be subject to prosecution for evidence tampering at the very least.

Answer 6

The best thing to do is to call the coroner - and sure, if you want to have a pet skull and name it Yorick, I'd suggest you look on Ebay, or call a medical school. Surely, they'd have some resin or plastic ones you could purchase to display. Why would you want someone's grandma's head on your mantle anyhow? What if it was part of a murder?

Answer 7

Turn it in. There are legit skulls for sale if you truly want one on your mantle, but this one could be the piece of evidence needed to solve a missing person case or to stop a killer from killing more people.

I don't think it's too morbid to like skulls or bones, they're very interesting and pretty in a way. I wouldn't care if people displayed mine, as long as they don't get them even *one second* before I'm done using them myself, in a natural manner! :-)
And not when my family is looking for me either, of course.

Answer 8

the right thing to do of course, is report it. the deceased's family may have been looking for that body for years!

i actually know someone who dug a skull up in their back yard when they were putting in a new clothesline.

first he hit the skull, because it was buried standing up not laying down. he reported it and it turned out to be an aboriginal skeleton, as where he lives is pretty much where they used to bury their people, and they buried them standing up i think so they could 'walk' into the next life or whatever.

after the police identified it as aboriginal, they were not allowed to touch it. they had to call in some aboriginal 'elders' who had to supervise my friend as he moved the whole skeleton to somewhere it wouldnt be dug up again. they would not touch it they made him do the whole thing himself and he had to keep it on his land still. how weird is that.
also when they arrived there was a snake which they said was the spirit of the aboriginal greeting them. this is all true.

Answer 9

Creepy.

I would say call the authorities.

Keeping a skull on the mantle seems like it could do more harm than good, in the long run.

Answer 10

Yes, the correct thing would be to call the cops. The other option is just sick of you to even think of! What if tables were turned and you had been missing and your family didn't know what happened to you and someone found your skull and didn't report it so they just never knew... You could help solve a crime if you reported something like that. Also, you never know, it could be Hoffa! :o)